U.S. patent application number 17/280101 was filed with the patent office on 2022-01-27 for combination of bacterial biological control agent and fatty acids.
The applicant listed for this patent is Bayer Aktiengesellschaft. Invention is credited to Gilbert LABOURDETTE, Karl-Wilhelm MUNKS, Jolanda Maud WIJSMULLER.
Application Number | 20220022463 17/280101 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | |
Filed Date | 2022-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20220022463 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MUNKS; Karl-Wilhelm ; et
al. |
January 27, 2022 |
COMBINATION OF BACTERIAL BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENT AND FATTY
ACIDS
Abstract
The present invention relates to a composition comprising a) at
least one biological control agent which is a fungicidally active
bacterium and/or a fungicidally active metabolite produced by the
respective bacterium and b) one or more fatty acids or derivatives
thereof selected from unsaturated and saturated C.sub.12-24 fatty
acids, salts thereof, esters thereof or mixtures of any of the
foregoing as well as methods of using this composition and related
uses.
Inventors: |
MUNKS; Karl-Wilhelm; (Neuss,
DE) ; WIJSMULLER; Jolanda Maud; (VD Houten, NL)
; LABOURDETTE; Gilbert; (Paray le Monial, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bayer Aktiengesellschaft |
Leverkusen |
|
DE |
|
|
Appl. No.: |
17/280101 |
Filed: |
September 27, 2019 |
PCT Filed: |
September 27, 2019 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2019/076216 |
371 Date: |
March 25, 2021 |
International
Class: |
A01N 63/25 20060101
A01N063/25; A01N 63/22 20060101 A01N063/22; A01N 37/02 20060101
A01N037/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 28, 2018 |
EP |
18197495.7 |
Claims
1. A composition comprising (a) at least one biological control
agent which is a fungicidally active bacterium and/or a
fungicidally active metabolite produced by the respective bacterium
and (b) one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof selected
from unsaturated and saturated C.sub.12-24 fatty acids, salts
thereof, esters thereof or mixtures of any of the foregoing.
2. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said biological
control agent is a strain of a species selected from the group
consisting of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus licheniformis, and
Paenibacillus sp.
3. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said biological
control agent is selected from the group consisting of (B1.1)
Bacillus subtilis strain QST713/AQ713, (B1.2) Bacillus pumilus
strain QST2808, (B1.3) Bacillus pumilus strain GB34, (B1.4)
Bacillus pumilus strain BU F-33, (B1.5) Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
strain D747, (B1.6) Bacillus subtilis Y1336, (B1.7) Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens strain MBI 600, (B1.8) Bacillus subtilis strain
GB03, (B1.9) Bacillus subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens strain FZB24,
(B1.10) Bacillus mycoides isolate J, (B1.11) Bacillus licheniformis
strain SB3086, and (B1.12) a Paenibacillus sp. strain having
Accession No. NRRL B-50972 or Accession No. NRRL B-67129 and/or a
mutant of these strains having all the identifying characteristics
of the respective strain, and/or a metabolite produced by the
respective strain that exhibits activity against
phytopathogens.
4. The composition according to claim 2, wherein said biological
control agent is B. subtilis QST713.
5. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said one or more
fatty acids or derivatives thereof are selected from unsaturated
and saturated C.sub.14-20 fatty acids, salts thereof, esters
thereof or mixtures of any of the foregoing.
6. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more
fatty acids or derivatives thereof comprises two or more fatty
acids selected from C16:0 fatty acids, C16:1 fatty acids, C18:0
fatty acid, C18:1 fatty acids, C18:2 fatty acids, and C18:3 fatty
acids, or salts thereof.
7. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more
fatty acids or derivatives thereof comprises oleic acid or a salt
thereof.
8. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the one or more
fatty acids or derivatives thereof comprise one or more metal salts
of fatty acids, which one or more metal salts of fatty acids are
obtainable by a process comprising (a) Providing a vegetable oil,
preferably olive oil; (b) Hydrolyzing triglycerides in the
vegetable oil; (c) Extracting fatty acids from the hydrolyzed
vegetable oil; and (d) Forming the metal salts of the extracted
fatty acids.
9. The composition according to claim 1, wherein the fatty acid
derivatives are alkali metal salts of fatty acids, preferably
potassium salts of fatty acids.
10. The composition according to claim 1, wherein said fatty acid
derivatives salts of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium,
calcium, aluminum, copper iron or zinc or a mixture thereof.
11. The composition according to claim 1, wherein component b) is
one or more fatty acid.
12. The composition according to claim 1 which is a synergistic
composition.
13. The composition according to claim 1 additionally comprising at
least one auxiliary selected from the group consisting of
extenders, solvents, spontaneity promoters, carriers, emulsifiers,
dispersants, frost protectants, thickeners and adjuvants.
14. A seed coated with the composition according to claim 1.
15-17. (canceled)
18. A method for enhancing the fungicidal action of a biological
control agent against plant pathogens comprising mixing a
biological control agent as defined in claim 1 with one or more
fatty acids or derivatives thereof as defined in claim 1 and
applying said mixture to a plant or seed or a locus where said
plant or seed is intended to be grown.
19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the plant pathogen is
a strain of a genus selected from the group consisting of Venturia,
Sclerotinia, Rhizoctonia, Phytium, Alternaria, Botrytis,
Phytophthora, Puccinia, Blumeria, Fusarium and Septoria.
20. A method for reducing overall damage of plants and plant parts
as well as losses in harvested fruits or vegetables caused by
phytopathogens comprising the step of simultaneously or
sequentially applying at least one biological control agent as
defined claim 1 and one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof
as defined in claim 1 to a plant or seed or a locus where said
plant or seed is intended to be grown.
21. A method for increasing crop yield and/or the quality of food
commodities comprising the step of simultaneously or sequentially
applying at least one biological control agent as defined in claim
1 and one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as defined in
claim 1 to a plant or seed or a locus where said plant or seed is
intended to be grown.
22. The method according to claim 18, wherein said applying is
effected as a foliar or soil application or as a seed
treatment.
23-24. (canceled)
25. A kit-of-parts comprising (a) at least one biological control
agent which is a fungicidally active bacterium and/or a
fungicidally active metabolite produced by the respective bacterium
and (b) one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof selected
from unsaturated and saturated C.sub.12-24 fatty acids, salts
thereof, esters thereof or mixtures of any of the foregoing,
wherein (a) and (b) are spatially separated.
Description
[0001] The use of plant protection products comprising biological
control agents (BCAs) has become a valuable alternative in the
field of plant protection. Biological control agents directed
against fungi or insects as well as those promoting plant health
have been put on the market in different formulations.
[0002] Several plant protection agents based on bacteria such as
those of the genus Bacillus and Paenibacillus are known.
Furthermore, plant protection agents based on plant extracts are
known, such as a composition comprising fatty acids or derivatives
thereof known as Flipper.TM..
[0003] WO2016/189329 discloses the use of a combination of certain
fatty acids and a Trichoderma strain to increase plant health or to
combat nematodes or certain fungal diseases. WO2017/092978
discloses compositions of a metal compound and certain fatty acids
for crop defense and against fungi, oomycetes and bacteria.
[0004] In most cases, the effectiveness of BCAs is not at the same
level as for conventional insecticides and fungicides, especially
in case of severe infection pressure. Consequently, in some
circumstances, biological control agents, their mutants and
metabolites produced by them are, in particular in low application
rates, not entirely satisfactory. Thus, there is a constant need
for developing new plant health-enhancing and/or plant protection
compositions, including biological control agents used in
conjunction with other agents, to strive to fulfill the
above-mentioned requirements.
[0005] In view of this, it was in particular an object of the
present invention to provide compositions which have an enhanced
ability to improve plant growth and/or to enhance plant health or
which exhibit enhanced activity against insects, mites, nematodes
and/or phytopathogens.
[0006] Accordingly, in a first aspect, the present invention
relates to a composition comprising (a) at least one biological
control agent which is a bacterium active against at least one
plant pathogen, in particular a fungicidally and/or bactericidally
active bacterium and/or a metabolite produced by the respective
bacterium which is active against at least one plant pathogen and
(b) one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof selected from
unsaturated and saturated C.sub.12-24 fatty acids, salts thereof,
esters thereof or mixtures of any of the foregoing.
[0007] The term "at least one" in connection with the present
invention relates to one or more of a kind, such as (at least) two,
(at least) three or even (at least) four.
[0008] Bacteria active against plant pathogens may comprise
fungicidally and bactericidally active bacteria or those active
against oomycetes. In a preferred embodiment, the bacteria are thus
fungicidally and/or bactericidally active and/or active against
oomycetes, more preferably at least fungicidally active and most
preferably at least fungicidally active and active against
oomycetes.
[0009] Fatty acids are compounds of formula RCO.sub.2H where R is
an aliphatic hydrocarbon group. Typically, R is a long chain
aliphatic hydrocarbon group. For the purpose of the present
invention, R may be a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic
hydrocarbon group having from 11 to 23 carbons (i.e. a C12-24 fatty
acid). Typically, R is a linear, saturated or unsaturated aliphatic
hydrocarbon group having from 11 to 23 carbon atoms, e.g. a linear
C11-23 alkane group or a linear C11-23 alkene group. R is often a
linear, saturated or unsaturated, aliphatic hydrocarbon group
having from 11 to 21 carbon atoms, e.g. a linear C11-21 alkane
group or a linear C11-21 alkene group. Unsaturated aliphatic
hydrocarbon groups typically contain from 1 to 4 double bonds, for
instance 1 or 2 double bonds. Products based on fatty acids and/or
salts and/or derivatives thereof are marketed as biological control
agents as well, e.g. the product Flipper.RTM. available from
AlphaBioControl.
[0010] Derivatives of fatty acids include salts, esters and amides
of the fatty acid. Typically, a derivative of the fatty acid, as
used herein is a salt or an ester of the fatty acid.
[0011] An ester of a fatty acid is typically an ester of the fatty
acid with an alcohol such as methanol, ethanol, propanol, butanol,
ethane-1,2-diol, propane-1,3-diol and propane-1,2,3-triol
(glycerol). The derivative of the fatty acid may be a salt of the
fatty acid or a methyl ester of the fatty acid (i.e. RCO.sub.2Me).
Alternatively, the derivative of the C12-C24 fatty acid may be an
ester of methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, butanol or a
mixture thereof.
[0012] A salt of a fatty acid is typically a metal salt of the
fatty acid. Often, the one or more fatty acids or derivatives
thereof are one or more metal salts of fatty acids. The metal salts
are typically alkali metal salts or earth alkali metal salts, but
also comprise aluminum, copper, iron and zinc salts Alkali metal
salts of fatty acids include lithium, sodium, potassium and
rubidium salts of fatty acids. The composition may therefore
comprise one or more fatty acids or sodium or potassium salts
thereof. For instance, component (b) may be one or more sodium or
potassium salt of fatty acids. Earth alkali metal salts of fatty
acids include magnesium and calcium salts. The composition may
therefore comprise one or more fatty acids or magnesium or calcium
salts thereof. For instance, component (b) may be one or more
magnesium or calcium salt of fatty acids. Alternatively, or in
addition, component (b) may be one or more aluminum, copper, iron
or zinc salt of fatty acids. Such salts may be formed by reacting
the one or more fatty acids with a base comprising the desired
metal cation, for instance by reacting one or more fatty acids with
sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide in case of alkali metals,
magnesium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide for earth alkali metals,
or aluminum hydroxide, copper hydroxide, zinc hydroxide or iron
hydroxide for other metals.
[0013] In a preferred embodiment, component b) is one or more fatty
acid. In other words, in this preferred embodiment, the composition
according to the invention comprises one or more fatty acids but
not salts or derivatives thereof.
[0014] The one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as
described above may be present in a mixture. For example, the part
of the composition according to b) may comprise one or more fatty
acids and one or more esters of at least one fatty acid and/or one
or more salt of a fatty acid. In this respect, the fatty acid
forming the basis of the one or more ester and/or the one or more
salt of fatty acids may be the same or a different fatty acid than
a fatty acid comprised in the part of the composition according to
b). For example, if a mixture of fatty acids and salts of fatty
acids is present, the ratio of fatty acids:salts of fatty acids may
range between 1:10000 and 10000:1, such as between 1:1000 and
1000:1.
[0015] The one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof are
typically selected from saturated and unsaturated acids selected
from
[0016] undecylic acid (C11), lauric acid (C12), tridecylic acid
(C13), myristic acid (C14), pentadecanoic acid (C15), palmitic acid
(C16), margaric acid (C17), stearic acid (C18), nonadecylic acid
(C19), arachidic acid (C20), heneicosylic acid (C21), behenic acid
(C22), tricosylic acid (C23), lignoceric acid (C24), and
derivatives thereof; and unsaturated acids selected from
u-linolenic acid (C18:3), stearidonic acid (C18:4),
eicosapentaenoic acid (C20:5), docosahexaenoic acid (C22:6),
linoleic acid (C18:2),y-linolenic acid (C18:3), dihomo-y-linolenic
acid (C20:3), arachidonic acid (C20:4), adrenic acid (C22:4),
palmitoleic acid (C16:1), vaccenic acid (C18:1), paullinic acid
(C20:1), oleic acid (C18:1), elaidic acid (Ctrans-18:1), gondoic
acid (C20:1), erucic acid (C22:1), nervonic acid (C24:1), mead acid
(20:3) and derivatives thereof.
[0017] The notation CM:N fatty (where M and N are integers), as
used herein, means that the fatty acid comprises M carbon atoms and
N double bonds. The N double bonds may be at any position (cis or
trans configuration), although two double bonds are not usually
adjacent (i.e. bonded to the same carbon atom). Thus, C18:0 (or
simply C18) covers only octadecanoic acid (stearic acid) and
C18:1includes all fatty acids having 18 carbons and one double
bond, such as oleic acid ((Z)-octadec-9-enoic acid) and vaccenic
acid ((E)-octadec-11-enoic acid).
[0018] The fatty acids or derivatives thereof may originate from
any plant producing such fatty acids, preferably from an organ of a
plant producing and/or containing high contents of fatty acids such
as seeds. Examples of such seeds include apple seed, argan seed,
coconut, colza, canola, corn, cottonseed, grape seed, hazelnut,
macadamia, mustard, niger seed, olive, palm kernel, peanut,
poppyseed, pumpkin seed, ramtil, rice bran, safflower, soybean,
sesame, sunflower, tamarind seed, tea seed and walnut. Preferably,
the fatty acids or derivatives thereof originate from olive oil,
sunflower oil (both regular and high oleic acid sunflower oil),
soybean oil and canola oil. More preferably, the fatty acids
originate from olive oil obtained from the endocarp and/or olive
seed (olive pits). The fatty acids or derivatives thereof may also
be Tall Oil Fatty Acids (TOFA). TOFA are based on a by-product of
the Kraft process of wood pulp manufacture when pulping mainly
coniferous trees called tall oil and are a result of reducing rosin
content of tall oil to between 1 and 10 wt. %, e.g. by fractional
distillation. TOFA consists mainly of oleic acid.
[0019] The fatty acids or derivatives thereof may equally originate
from animals (for a review see Food Processing: Principles and
Applications, Second Edition. Edited by Stephanie Clark, Stephanie
Jung, and Buddhi Lamsal.COPYRGT. 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Published 2014 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd; Chapter 21: Fats and
Oils--Animal Based).
[0020] Fungicidally active bacteria are able to act against e.g.
fungal (plant) pathogens through different modes of action.
Bactericidally active bacteria are able to act against bacterial
(plant) pathogens. Several members of the genus Bacillus or
Paenibacillus are known to exert fungicidal and/or bactericidal
effects.
[0021] The term "metabolite" refers to any compound, substance or
byproduct of a fermentation of a bacterium that has activity
against at least one plant pathogen, in particular which has
fungicidal and/or bactericidal activity.
[0022] According to one embodiment of the present invention the
biological control agent comprises not only the isolated, pure
cultures of the respective bacterium, in particular the
fungicidally and/or bactericidally active bacterium but also
suspensions in a whole broth culture or a metabolite-containing
supernatant or a purified metabolite obtained from whole broth
culture of the bacterial strain. "Whole broth culture" refers to a
liquid culture containing both cells and media. "Supernatant"
refers to the liquid broth remaining when cells grown in broth are
removed by centrifugation, filtration, sedimentation, or other
means well known in the art. According to another embodiment, the
biological control agent comprises the isolated, pure cultures of
the respective bacterium formulated in a suitable formulation apart
from its fermentation broth, as described further below.
[0023] The above-mentioned metabolites produced by bacteria include
antibiotics, enzymes, siderophores and growth promoting agents, for
example zwittermicin-A, kanosamine, polyoxine, enzymes such as
a-amylase, chitinases, and pektinases, phytohormones and precursors
thereof, such as auxines, gibberlin-like substacnes, cytokinin-like
compounds, lipopeptides such as iturins, plipastatins or
surfactins, e.g. agrastatin A, bacillomycin D, bacilysin,
difficidin, macrolactin, fengycin, bacilysin and bacilaene.
Preferred metabolites of the above listed are lipopeptides, in
particular those produced by Bacillus pumilus (NRRL Accession No.
B-30087) or Bacillus subtilis AQ713 (NRRL Accession No. B-21661).
Especially preferred metabolites are Iturin A, Surfactin,
Plipstatin and Agrastatin A. An even more preferred metabolite is
agrastatin A. According to the invention, the biological control
agent may be employed or used in any physiologic state such as
active or dormant.
[0024] The genus Bacillus as used herein refers to a genus of
Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria which are members of the
division Firmicutes. Bacillus bacteria may be characterized and
identified based on the nucleotide sequence of their 16S rRNA or a
fragment thereof (e.g., approximately a 1000 nt, 1100 nt, 1200 nt,
1300 nt, 1400 nt, or 1500 nt fragment of 16S rRNA or rDNA
nucleotide sequence).
[0025] In one embodiment, said biological control agent is a strain
of a bacterial species selected from the group consisting of
Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens,
Bacillus mycoides, Bacillus licheniformis, and Paenibacillus
sp.
[0026] If of the genus Bacillus, the bacterium active against at
least one plant pathogen, in particular the fungicidally and/or
bactericidally active bacterium may be of any of the species of B.
acidiceler, B. acidicola, B. acidiproducens, B. aeolius, B. aerius,
B. aerophilus, B. agaradhaerens, B. aidingensis, B. akibai, B.
alcalophilus, B. algicola, B. alkalinitrilicus, B. alkalisediminis,
B. alkalitelluris, B. altit dinis, B. alveayuensis, B.
amyloliquefaciens, B. anthracia, B. aquimaris, B. arsenicus, B.
aryabhattai, B. asahii, B. atrophaeus, B. aurantiacus, B.
azotoformans, B. badius, B. barbaric us, B. bataviensis, B.
beijingensis, B. benzoevorans, B. beveridgei, B. bogoriensis, B.
boroniphilus, B. butanolivorans, B. canaveralius, B. carboniphilus,
B. cecembensis, B. cellulosilyiicus, B. cereus, B. chagannorensis,
B. chungangensis, B. cibi, B. circulars, B. clarkii, B. clausii, B.
coagulans, B. coahuilensis, B. cohnii, B. decisifrondis, B.
decolorationis, B. drentensis, B. farraginis, B. faslidiosus, B.
firmus, B. flexus, B. foraminis, B. fordii, B. fortis, B.
fumarioli, B. funiculus, B. galactosidilyticus, B. galliciensis, B.
gelatini, B. gibsonii, B. ginsengi, B. ginsengihumi, B. graminis,
B. halmapalus, B. halochares, B. halodurans, B.
hemicellulosilyticus, B. herbertsteinensis, B. horikoshi, B.
horneckiae, B. horti, B. humi, B. hwajinpoensis, B. idriensis, B.
indicus, B. infantis, B. infernus, B. isabeliae, B. isronensis, B.
jeotgali, B. koreensis, B. korlensis, B. kribbensis, B. krul chiae,
B. lehensis, B. lentus, B. licheniformis, B. litoralis, B.
locisalis, B. luciferensis, B. luteolus, B. macauensis, B. macyae,
B. mannanilyticus, B. marisflavi, B. marmarensis, B. massiliensis,
B. megaterium, B. methanolicus, B. methylotrophicus, B. mojavensis,
B. muralis, B. murimartini, B. mycoides, B. nanhaiensis, B.
nanhaiisediminis, B. nealsonii, B. neizhouensis, B. niabensis, B.
niacini, B. novalis, B. oceanisediminis, B. odysseyi, B. okhensis,
B. okuhidensis, B. oleronius, B. oshimensis, B. panaciterrae, B.
patagoniensis, B. persepolensis, B. plakortidis, B. pocheonensis,
B. polygoni, B. pseudoalcaliphilus, B. pseudofirmus, B.
pseudomycoides, B. psychrosaccharolyticus, B. pumilus, B.
qingdaonensis, B. rigui, B. ruris, B. safensis, B. salarius, B.
saliphilus, B. schlegelii, B. selenatarsenatis, B.
selenitireducens, B. seohaeanensis, B. shackletonii, B. siamensis,
B. simplex, B. siralis, B. smithii, B. soli, B. solisalsi, B.
sonorensis, B. sporothermodurans, B. stratosphericus, B.
subterraneus, B. subtilis, B. taeansis, B. tequilensis, B.
thermantarcticus, B. the rmoamylovorans, B. thermocloacae, B.
thermolactis, B. thioparans, B. thuringiensis, B. tripoxylicola, B.
tusciae, B. vallismortis, B. vedderi, B. vietnamensis, B. vireti,
B. wakoensis, B. weihenstephanensis, B. xiaoxiensis, and mixtures
or blends thereof.
[0027] In some embodiments, the Bacillus isolate active against at
least one plant pathogen, in particular the fungicidally and/or
bactericidally active Bacillus isolate is Bacillus subtilis,
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus pumilus, or a combination
thereof.
[0028] Paenibacillus is a genus of low GC-content,
endospore-forming, Gram-positive bacteria (Firmicutes). Bacteria
belonging to this genus are prolific producers of
industrially-relevant extracellular enzymes and antimicrobial
substances, including non-ribosomal peptide classes like
fusaricidin and polymyxin. Fusaricidins and polymyxins are known to
have antimicrobial activity against various plant-pathogenic fungi
and bacteria.
[0029] In certain embodiments, the Paenibacillus sp. strain is of
the species P. agarexedens, P. agaridevorans, P. alginolyticus, P.
alkaliterrae, P. alvei, P. amylolyticus, P. anaericanus, P.
antarcticus, P. assamensis, P. azoreducens, P. azotofixans, P.
barcinonensis, P. borealis, P. brasiliensis, P. brassicae, P.
campinasensis, P. chinjuensis, P. chitinolyticus, P. chondroitinus,
P. cineris, P. cookie, P. curdlanolyticus, P. daejeonensis, P.
dendritiformis, P. durum, P. ehimensis, P. elgii, P. favisporus, P.
glucanolyticus, P. glycanilyticus, P. gordonae, P. graminis, P.
granivorans, P. hodogayensis, P. illinoisensis, P. jamilae, P.
kobensis, P. koleovorans, P. koreensis, P. kribbensis, P. lactis,
P. larvae, P. lautus, P. lentimorbus, P. macerans, P.
macquariensis, P. massiliensis, P. mendelii, P. motobuensis, P.
naphthalenovorans, P. nematophilus, P. nov. spec. epiphyticus, P.
odorifer, P. pabuli, P. peoriae, P. phoenicis, P. phyllosphaerae,
P. polymyxa, P. polymyxa ssp. polymyxa, P. polymyxa ssp. plantarum,
P. popilliae, P. pulvifaciens, P. rhizosphaerae, P. sanguinis, P.
stellifer, P. taichungensis, P. terrae, P. thiaminolyticus, P.
timonensis, P. tylopili, P. turicensis, P. validus, P. vortex, P.
vulneris, P. wynnii or P. xylanilyticus.
[0030] In another embodiment, the Paenibacillus sp. strain is
Paenibacillus polymyxa, Paenibacillus polymyxa ssp. polymyxa,
Paenibacillus polymyxa ssp. plantarum, Paenibacillus nov. spec.
epiphyticus, Paenibacillus terrae, Paenibacillus macerans, or
Paenibacillus alvei. In yet another embodiment, the Paenibacillus
sp. strain is Paenibacillus terrae.
[0031] In certain aspects, the Paenibacillus sp. strain is a
fusaricidin-producing Paenibacillus sp. strain. Examples of
fusaricidin-producing Paenibacillus sp. strains include but are not
limited to Paenibacillus polymyxa, Paenibacillus polymyxa ssp.
polymyxa, Paenibacillus polymyxa ssp. plantarum, Paenibacillus nov.
spec. epiphyticus, Paenibacillus terrae, Paenibacillus macerans,
and Paenibacillus alvei.
[0032] In one aspect, the Paenibacillus sp. strain is Paenibacillus
sp. strain NRRL B-50972, Paenibacillus sp. strain NRRL B-67129,
Paenibacillus sp. strain NRRL B-67304, Paenibacillus sp. strain
NRRL B-67306, Paenibacillus sp. strain NRRL B-67615, or a mutant
strain thereof which is active against at least one plant pathogen.
It is most preferred that the Paenibacillus sp. strain is NRRL
B-67615.
[0033] In some embodiments, any one of the following Bacillus
strains is comprised in the composition of the present invention:
Bacillus subtilis GB03 (available as KODIAK.RTM. from Bayer
CropScience, U.S. EPA Reg. No. 264-970) or Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens strain IN937a, or Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
strain FZB42 (DSM 231179, product known as RHIZO VITAL.RTM. from
ABiTEP, DE); or Bacillus subtilis strain B3, or Bacillus subtilis
strain D747, (products known as BACSTAR.RTM. from Etec Crop
Solutions, NZ, or DOUBLE NICKEL.RTM. from Certis, US); Bacillus
subtilis strain GB03 (Accession No. ATCC SD-1397, product known as
KODIAK.RTM. from Bayer CropScience, DE, U.S. EPA Reg. No. 264-970)
or Bacillus subtilis strain QST713/AQ713 (Accession No. NRRL
B-21661, products known as SERENADE.RTM. from Bayer CropScience) or
Bacillus subtilis strain AQ153 (ATCC Accession No. 55614) or
Bacillus sp. strain AQ743 (Accession No. NRRL B-21665) or Bacillus
subtilis strain DB 101, (products known as SHELTER.TM. from Dagutat
Bio lab, ZA); or Bacillus subtilis strain DB 102, (products known
as ARTEMIS.TM. from Dagutat Bio lab, ZA); or Bacillus subtilis
strain MBI 600, (products known as SUBTILEX.RTM. from Becker
Underwood, U.S.); or Bacillus subtilis strain QST30002/AQ30002
(Accession No. NRRL B-50421, cf. WO 2012/087980) or Bacillus
subtilis strain QST30004/AQ30004 (Accession No. NRRL B-50455, cf.
WO 2012/087980), or Bacillus subtilis strain BSY 1336, (products
known as BIBONG.RTM. from Kuanghwa Chemical Co. Ltd., Taiwan); or
Bacillus subtilis strain BD 170, (products known as BIOPRO.RTM.
from Adermatt Biocontrol, Europe); or Bacillus subtilis strain B2g,
(products known as PHYTOVIT.RTM. from Prophyta, Germany); or
Bacillus subtilis strain BSF4, (products known as BSF4.RTM. from
Agribiotec, Italy); or Bacillus subtilis strain B246, (products
known as AVOGREEN.RTM. from the University of Pretoria in South
Africa); Bacillus sp. strain GB99 or Bacillus sp. strain GB122
(products known as BIOYIELD.RTM.); or Bacillus subtilis strain
KTSB, (products known as FOLIACTIVE.RTM. from Donaghys, New
Zealand); or Bacillus subtilis strain Antumavida or Bacillus
subtilis strain Vilc n, (products known as NACILLUS.RTM. from Bio
Insumos Nativa Ltda., Chile); or Bacillus subtilis strain BSY1336,
(products known as BIOBAC.RTM. from Bion Tech Inc., Taiwan); or
Bacillus subtilis strain WG6-14, (products known as BACTOPHYT.RTM.
from Novosibirsk, Russia); or Bacillus subtilis strain KTS,
(products known as KILL DEW.RTM. DP from Krishi-Mitra, Turkey); or
Bacillus subtilis strain MBI 600, (products known as
BOTOKILLER.RTM. from Idemitsu Kosan Co., Korea); or Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens strain BS1b, (products known as TRIPLEX.RTM. from
BioStart Limited, New Zealand); or Bacillus subtilis strain
BS-K423, (products known as UNGSAMI.RTM. from Shin Young Agro Co.,
Ltd., Korea); or Bacillus subtilis strain PB6, (products known as
CLOSTAT.RTM. from Kemin, USA); or Bacillus subtilis strain KPS46;
or Bacillus subtilis strain C06; or Bacillus subtilis strain JKK
238; or Bacillus subtilis strain EB120; or Bacillus subtilis strain
KB401.
[0034] A sample of Bacillus subtilis QST713 has been deposited with
the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection located at the
National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, Agricultural
Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1815 North
University Street, Peoria, Ill. 61604, U.S.A., under the Budapest
Treaty on March 7, 1997, and has been assigned Accession Number
NRRL B-21661. Samples of QST30002 (aka AQ30002) and QST30004 (aka
AQ30004) have been deposited with the Agricultural Research Service
Culture Collection under the Budapest Treaty on Oct. 5, 2010, and
Dec. 6, 2010, respectively. QST30002 has been assigned Accession
Number NRRL B-50421, and QST30004 has been assigned the following
Accession Number NRRL B-50455.
[0035] In a more preferred embodiment, said biological control
agent is selected from the group consisting of (B1.1) Bacillus
subtilis strain QST713/AQ713 , (B1.2) Bacillus pumilus strain
QST2808 , (B1.3) Bacillus pumilus strain GB34, (B1.4) Bacillus
pumilus strain BU F-33, (B1.5) Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain
D747, (B1.6) Bacillus subtilis Y1336, (B1.7) Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens strain MBI 600, (B1.8) Bacillus subtilis strain
GB03, (B1.9) Bacillus subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens strain FZB24,
(B1.10) Bacillus mycoides isolate J, (B1.11) Bacillus licheniformis
strain SB3086, and (B1.12) a Paenibacillus sp. strain having
Accession No. NRRL B-50972 or Accession No. NRRL B-67129 and/or a
mutant of these strains having all the identifying characteristics
of the respective strain and/or a metabolite produced by the
respective strain which is active against at least one plant
pathogen.
[0036] It is most preferred that said biological control agent is
B. subtilis QST713 and/or a mutant and/or metabolite thereof which
is active against at least one plant pathogen.
[0037] At the time of filing U.S. patent application Ser. No.
09/074,870, in 1998, which relates to QST713, the strain was
designated as Bacillus subtilis based on classical, physiological,
biochemical and morphological methods. Taxonomy of the Bacillus
species has evolved since then, especially in light of advances in
genetics and sequencing technologies, such that species designation
is based largely on DNA sequence rather than the methods used in
1998. After aligning protein sequences from B. amyloliquefaciens
FZB42, B. subtilis 168 and QST713, approximately 95% of proteins
found in B. amyloliquefaciens FZB42 are 85% or greater identical to
proteins found in QST713; whereas only 35% of proteins in B.
subtilis 168 are 85% or greater identical to proteins in QST713.
However, even with the greater reliance on genetics, there is still
taxonomic ambiguity in the relevant scientific literature and
regulatory documents, reflecting the evolving understanding of
Bacillus taxonomy over the past 15 years. For example, a pesticidal
product based on B. subtilis strain FZB24, which is as closely
related to QST713 as FZB42, is classified in documents of the U.S.
EPA as B. subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens. Due to these
complexities in nomenclature, this particular Bacillus species is
variously designated, depending on the document, as B. subtilis, B.
amyloliquefaciens, and B. subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens.
Therefore, we have retained the B. subtilis designation of QST713
rather than changing it to B. amyloliquefaciens, as would be
expected currently based solely on sequence comparison and inferred
taxonomy.
[0038] Suitable formulations of the Bacillus subtilis strain QST713
are commercially available under the trade names SERENADE.RTM.,
SERENADE.RTM. ASO, SERENADE SOIL.RTM. and SERENADE.RTM. MAX from
Bayer CropScience LP, North Carolina, U.S.A.
[0039] The SERENADE.RTM. product (U.S. EPA Registration No.
69592-12) contains Bacillus subtilis strain QST713 and many
different lipopeptides that work synergistically to destroy disease
pathogens and provide antimicrobial activity. The SERENADE.RTM.
product is used to protect plants such as vegetables, fruit, nut
and vine crops against diseases such as Fire Blight, Botrytis, Sour
Rot, Rust, Sclerotinia, Powdery Mildew, Bacterial Spot and White
Mold. The SERENADE.RTM. products are available as either liquid or
dry formulations which can be applied as a foliar and/or soil
treatment. Copies of U.S. EPA Master Labels for the SERENADE.RTM.
products, including SERENADE.RTM. ASO, SERENADE.RTM. MAX, and
SERENADE SOIL.RTM., are publicly available through National
Pesticide Information Retrieval System's (NPIRS.RTM.) US EPA/OPP
Pesticide Product Label System (PPLS).
[0040] SERENADE.RTM. ASO (Aqueous Suspension-Organic) contains
1.34% of dried QST713 as an active ingredient and 98.66% of other
ingredients. SERENADE.RTM. ASO is formulated to contain a minimum
of 1.times.10.sup.9 cfu/g of QST713 while the maximum amount of
QST713 has been determined to be 3.3.times.10.sup.10 cfu/g.
Alternate commercial names for SERENADE.RTM. ASO include
SERENADE.RTM. BIOFUNGICIDE, SERENADE SOIL.RTM. and SERENADE.RTM.
GARDEN DISEASE. For further information, see the U.S. EPA Master
Labels for SERENADE.RTM. ASO dated Jan. 4, 2010, and SERENADE
SOIL.RTM., each of which is incorporated by reference herein in its
entirety.
[0041] SERENADE.RTM. MAX contains 14.6% of dried QST713 as an
active ingredient and 85.4% of other ingredients. SERENADE.RTM. MAX
is formulated to contain a minimum of 7.3.times.10.sup.9 cfu/g of
QST713 while the maximum amount of QST713 has been determined to be
7.9.times.10.sup.10 cfu/g. For further information, see the U.S.
EPA Master Label for SERENADE.RTM. MAX, which is incorporated by
reference herein in its entirety.
[0042] SERENADE.RTM. OPTIMUM (or OPTI) contains 26.2% of dried
QST713 as an active ingredient and 73.8% of other ingredients.
SERENADE.RTM. OPTIMUM (or OPTI) is formulated to contain a minimum
of 1.31.times.10.sup.10 cfu/g of QST713. For further information,
see the U.S. EPA Master Label for SERENADE.RTM. OPTIMUM (or OPTI),
which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
[0043] A suitable formulation of Bacillus pumilus QST2808 is
commercially available under the tradename of SONATA.RTM. (EPA Reg.
No. 264-1153), contains 1.38% of dried QST2808, and is formulated
to contain a minimum of 1.times.10.sup.9 cfu/g of QST2808. Another
suitable formulation of Bacillus pumilus QST2808 is commercially
available under the tradename of BALLAD.RTM. PLUS (EPA Reg. No.
69592-13), contains 1.38% of dried QST2808, and is formulated to
contain a minimum of 1.times.10.sup.10 cfu/g of QST2808.
[0044] The term "mutant" refers to a genetic variant derived from
the respective strain, such as from Bacillus subtilis QST713. In
one embodiment, the mutant has one or more or all the identifying
(functional) characteristics of that strain. In a particular
instance, the mutant or a fermentation product thereof controls (as
an identifying functional characteristic) fungi at least as well as
the parent strain. Such mutants may be genetic variants having a
genomic sequence that has greater than about 85%, greater than
about 90%, greater than about 95%, greater than about 98%, or
greater than about 99% sequence identity to the parent strain.
Mutants may be obtained by treating cells of the parent strain with
chemicals or irradiation or by selecting spontaneous mutants from a
population of cells treated in this way (such as phage resistant or
antibiotic resistant mutants) or by other means well known to those
practiced in the art.
[0045] The mutant strain of Bacillus subtilis QST713 can be any
mutant strain that has one or more or all the identifying
characteristics of Bacillus subtilis QST713 and in particular
fungicidal and/or bactericidal activity that is comparable or
better than that of Bacillus subtilis QST713.
[0046] Other Bacillus strains capable of producing lipopeptides may
be used in the present invention. For example, Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens strain D747 (available as BACSTAR.RTM. from Etec
Crop Solutions, NZ and also available as DOUBLE NICKEL55.TM. from
Certis, US); Bacillus subtilis MBI600 (available as SUBTILEX.RTM.
from Becker Underwood, US EPA Reg. No. 71840-8); Bacillus subtilis
Y1336 (available as BIOBAC.RTM. WP from Bion-Tech, Taiwan,
registered as a biological fungicide in Taiwan under Registration
Nos. 4764, 5454, 5096 and 5277); Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, in
particular strain FZB42 (available as RHIZOVITAL.RTM. from ABiTEP,
DE); Bacillus subtilis var. amyloliquefaciens FZB24 is available
from Novozymes Biologicals Inc. (Salem, Va.) or Syngenta Crop
Protection, LLC (Greensboro, N.C.) as the fungicide TAEGRO.RTM. or
TAEGRO.RTM. ECO (EPA Registration No. 70127-5), and Bacillus
subtilis EA-CB0015 and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens EA-CB0959
(described in International Publication No. WO/2014/178032) are all
Bacillus strains capable of producing lipopeptides that may be used
in the present invention.
[0047] A mutant of FZB24 that was assigned Accession No. NRRL
B-50349 by the Agricultural Research Service Culture Collection is
also described in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2011/0230345.
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens FZB42 is available from ABiTEP GMBH,
Germany, as the plant strengthening product RHIZOVITAL.RTM.; FZB42
is also described in European Patent Publication No. EP2179652 and
also in Chen, et al., "Comparative Analysis of the Complete Genome
Sequence of the Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens FZB42," Nature Biotechnology, Volume 25, Number 9
(September 2007). Mutants of FZB42 are described in International
Publication No. WO 2012/130221, including Bacillus
amyloliquefaciens ABI01, which was assigned Accession No. DSM
10-1092 by the DSMZ--German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell
Cultures.
[0048] In the course of the present invention, it has surprisingly
been found that the action of a bacterium active against at least
one plant pathogen, in particular a fungicidally and/or
bactericidally active bacterium, in particular bacteria of the
genus Bacillus or Paenibacillus, more particularly bacteria of the
species Bacillus subtilis, can be enhanced by co-application of a
fatty acid or derivative thereof according to the invention. Fatty
acids and derivatives thereof are themselves also considered to be
biological plant protection agents and have obtained market
authorization as such, thus the combination of both agents results
in an efficient measure for biological plant protection which can
be similar to the application of chemical plant protection
agents.
[0049] In one embodiment, said one or more fatty acids or
derivatives thereof are selected from unsaturated and saturated
C14-20 fatty acids, salts thereof, esters thereof or mixtures of
any of the foregoing. The one or more fatty acids or derivatives
thereof may also be selected from unsaturated and saturated
unsaturated and saturated C16-20 fatty acids, and salts or esters
thereof.
[0050] Preferably, the one or more fatty acids or derivatives
thereof comprises two or more fatty acids selected from C16:0 fatty
acids, C16:1 fatty acids, C18:0 fatty acid, C18:1 fatty acids,
C18:2 fatty acids, and C18:3 fatty acids, or salts thereof (for
instance potassium or sodium salts).
[0051] For instance, the one or more fatty acids may comprise the
following fatty acids in the following proportions:
[0052] C16 fatty acids from 1 to 10 wt %;
[0053] C16:1 fatty acids from 0 to 5 wt %;
[0054] C18:1 fatty acids from 60 to 94 wt %; and
[0055] C18:2 fatty acids from 5 to 20 wt %.
[0056] Often, the one or more fatty acids comprise the following
fatty acids in the following proportions:
[0057] C16 fatty acids from 3 to 7 wt %;
[0058] C16:1 fatty acids from 0 to 4 wt %;
[0059] C18:1 fatty acids from 70 to 89 wt %; and
[0060] C18:2 fatty acids from 8 to 18 wt %.
[0061] Fatty acid amounts in wt % as used in the present
application are relative to the total amount of fatty acids in the
composition.
[0062] The one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof may
comprise:
[0063] sodium or potassium salts of C16 fatty acids in an amount of
from 1 to 10 wt %;
[0064] sodium or potassium salts of C16:1 fatty acids in an amount
of from 0 to 5 wt %;
[0065] sodium or potassium salts of C18:1 fatty acids in an amount
of from 60 to 94 wt %;
[0066] and sodium or potassium salts of C18:2 fatty acids in an
amount of from 5 to 20 wt %.
[0067] Often, the one or more fatty acids comprise the following
fatty acids in the following proportions:
[0068] sodium or potassium salts of C16 fatty acids in an amount of
from 3 to 7 wt %;
[0069] sodium or potassium salts of C16:1 fatty acids in an amount
of from 0 to 4 wt %;
[0070] sodium or potassium salts of C18:1 fatty acids in an amount
of from 70 to 89 wt %;
[0071] and sodium or potassium salts of C18:2 fatty acids in an
amount of from 8 to 18 wt %.
[0072] It is preferred that the one or more fatty acid or
derivative thereof, in particular sodium or potassium salts
comprise C18, C18:1, C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids or derivatives
thereof which amount to at least 90 wt.-% of the total fatty acid
content, preferably at least 95wt.-%, possibly up to 97 wt.-%.
[0073] In particular, the one or more fatty acids or derivatives
thereof may comprise one or more of linoleic acid (C18:2),
y-linolenic acid (C18:3), palmitoleic acid (C16:1), vaccenic acid
(C18:1), paullinic acid (C20:1), oleic acid (C18:1), elaidic acid
(Ctrans-18:1) or derivatives thereof or a mixture of any of the
foregoing.
[0074] In one preferred embodiment, the one or more fatty acids or
derivatives thereof comprises oleic acid or a salt thereof. The one
or more fatty acid or derivatives thereof typically comprise at
least 70 wt % of oleic acid or a salt thereof, for instance a
potassium salt of oleic acid (potassium oleate). More preferably,
in this embodiment, said one or more fatty acid is a C16-C20 fatty
acid or derivative thereof. It is even more preferred that the one
or more fatty acid is not derivatized and comprises oleic acid. In
an alternative much preferred embodiment, the fatty acids are
derivatives in the form of potassium salts.
[0075] Whereas up to 97% of the one or more fatty acids or
derivatives thereof are in the range of C14-C20, minor percentages
of fatty acids or derivatives thereof may be C12, C13, C21 or C22
fatty acids or derivatives thereof. It is even more preferred that
at least 75 wt.-%, preferably at least 80 wt.-%, more preferably at
least 85 wt.-% and most preferably at least 90 wt.-% of one or more
fatty acids or derivatives thereof are C18:1, C18:2 and/or C18:3.
In this embodiment, the remaining percentage of fatty acids or
derivatives thereof are in the range of C12 to C18, such as C14,
C16, C16:1, C17 and C18, and C19 to C22.
[0076] In one embodiment, no fatty acids or derivatives thereof in
the range below C12 or above C22 are present.
[0077] The most preferred embodiments are those further comprising
a metal complex selected from the group consisting of copper
mandelate, copper salicylate, copper anthranilate, copper
2,6-dihydroxybenzoate, copper benzenesulphonate, zinc mandelate,
zinc salicylate, zinc anthranilate, zinc benzenesulphonate, iron
mandelate, iron salicylate, iron 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate, silver
mandelate, silver anthranilate, silver benzenesulphonate, magnesium
mandelate, magnesium 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate, and mixtures thereof,
in addition to a C16-C20 fatty acid or derivative thereof, said
fatty acid or derivative thereof being a mixture comprising at
least 70 wt % of potassium oleate, on the weight of the derivative
of C16-C20 fatty acid.
[0078] In another preferred embodiment, the one or more fatty acids
or derivatives thereof comprise one or more metal or alkali metal
salts of fatty acids. Such metal or alkali metal salts of fatty
acids are obtainable by a process comprising (a) Providing a
vegetable oil; (b) Hydrolyzing triglycerides in the vegetable oil;
(c) Extracting fatty acids from the hydrolyzed vegetable oil; and
(d) Forming the metal or alkali metal salts of the extracted fatty
acids. Preferably the alkali metal is potassium.
[0079] The vegetable oil is an oil or fat derived from a plant or
animal and may comprise triglycerides, lipids, and fatty acids.
Examples of oils derived from plants include apple seed oil, argan
oil, coconut oil, colza oil, canola oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil,
grape seed oil, hazelnut oil, macadamia oil, mustard oil, niger
seed oil, olive oil, palm kernel oil, peanut oil, poppyseed oil,
pumpkin seed oil, ramtil oil, rice bran oil, safflower oil, soybean
oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil, tamarind seed oil, tea seed oil and
walnut oil. Examples of oils derived from animals include fats
derived from animal rendering. Preferably, the vegetable oil is
olive oil.
[0080] Hydrolysing triglycerides in the vegetable oil typically
comprises treating the vegetable oil with an aqueous acid, for
instance aqueous sulfuric acid but may also be effected using other
means such as heat treatment. The treated vegetable oil may be
heated.
[0081] Extracting fatty acids from the hydrolysed vegetable oil may
be done by any suitable method as are well known to the skilled
person, for instance evaporation, solvent extraction, liquid-liquid
extraction or chromatography.
[0082] Forming the metal or alkali metal salts of the extracted
fatty acids may be done by any suitable method are well known to
the skilled person. Typically, this comprises treating the fatty
acids with a base comprising the metal or alkali metal, e.g. a
metal or alkali metal hydroxide such as KOH or NaOH. The metal is
often an alkali metal, e.g. Li, Na, K or Rb, preferably K, or an
alkali earth metal, e.g. Mg, Ca, Sr or Ba.
[0083] In some cases, the fatty acid derivatives may be formed
starting simply from a composition comprising the fatty acids.
Thus, the fatty acid component may be produced by providing one or
more fatty acids and forming the metal or alkali metal salts of the
extracted fatty acids.
[0084] In some embodiments, said fatty acid derivatives are salts
of lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, or a mixture
thereof.
[0085] In a more preferred embodiment, the fatty acid derivatives
are alkali metal salts of fatty acids, preferably potassium salts
of fatty acids.
[0086] In an alternative preferred embodiment, the fatty acid is
not derivatized.
[0087] The total amount of the one or more fatty acids or
derivatives thereof depends on the intended use and is often from
0.01 to 10 vol % for ready-to-use formulations, or from 0.5 to 7
vol %. For instance, the concentration of the fatty acid component
may be from 0.5 to 30 g/L or from 1 to 20 g/L. Preferably, the
concentration of the fatty acid component is from 3 to 15 g/L, for
instance from 7 to 12 g/L. In concentrated formulations, the total
amount of the one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof may
range between 20 and 60 wt.-%, such as between 25 and 55 wt.-%.
[0088] It is to be noted that the percentage of unsaturated fatty
acids in the component of the composition comprising one or more
fatty acids or derivative thereof is at least 30% of the total
fatty acids, preferably at least 40%, more preferably even more as
described above. Whereas many bacteria of the genus Bacillus or
Paenibacillus are able to synthesize fatty acids themselves for
various purposes, most notably for incorporation into their
membrane, the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids to be produced
by such bacteria under normal growth conditions is up to 28% of the
total fatty acids.
[0089] The pH value of the composition comprising the one or more
fatty acids or derivatives thereof is preferably in the alkaline
range, such as at least 8.0. Preferably, the pH is at least 8.5 or
even above, preferably in the range between 8.5 and 9.2.
[0090] If the bacterium active against at least one plant pathogen
comprises spores, the concentration of spores is typically from
1.times.10.sup.6 to 1.times.10.sup.12 cfu/g. The spore
concentration may be from 1.times.10.sup.8 to 5.times.10'' cfu/g.
The spore concentration is preferably between 5.times.10.sup.8 and
1.times.10.sup.11 cfu/g, more preferably between 1.times.10.sup.9
and 8.times.10.sup.10 cfu/g.
[0091] At the concentrations given above, the composition is
typically in a form suitable for application to plants. The
composition may of course also be presented in a form suitable for
storage or transport. In such cases, the concentration is typically
much higher. For instance, the concentration of the fatty acid
component may be greater than 100 ml/L or greater than 500 ml/L.
The spore concentration may be from 10 to 1 m1-1.
[0092] The composition of the invention may be made by any suitable
method. This usually comprises mixing components (a) and (b) in the
desired proportion.
[0093] The present invention provides an agrochemical product
comprising: (a) one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof; and
(b) a strain, culture, culture filtrate or spores of a bacterium
active against at least one plant pathogen, all as defined herein,
which strain, culture, culture filtrate or spores directly or
indirectly (i) inhibits the growth or reproduction of plant
pathogens or (ii) kills plant pathogens, wherein components (a) and
(b) are formulated for simultaneous or separate treatment of a
locus.
[0094] In addition to components (a) and (b), the composition
typically further comprises a solvent, which is usually water, but
may also be methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, iso-propanol, n-butanol,
isobutanol, allyl alcohol, 1,2-propylene glycol, 1,3-propylene
glycol, 1,2-ethylene glycol, polyethylene glycol (PEG), benzyl
alcohol, glycerol, and mixtures thereof. Preferably, the
composition comprises a mixture of water with one of the above
solvents.
[0095] In a preferred embodiment, item b) of the composition
comprises 2-4 wt % of a metal complex selected from the group
consisting of copper mandelate, copper salicylate, copper
anthranilate, copper 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate, copper
benzenesulphonate, zinc mandelate, zinc salicylate, zinc
anthranilate, zinc benzenesulphonate, iron mandelate, iron
salicylate, iron 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate, silver mandelate, silver
anthranilate, silver benzenesulphonate, magnesium mandelate,
magnesium 2,6-dihydroxybenzoate, and mixtures thereof, 75-85 wt %
of a salt of oleic acid, and the remainder of b) being a
solvent.
[0096] The composition according to the present invention may
additionally comprise at least one auxiliary selected from the
group consisting of extenders, spontaneity promoters, carriers,
emulsifiers, dispersants, frost protectants, thickeners and
adjuvants.
[0097] Accordingly, in one aspect of the present invention a
formulation and application forms prepared from it, are provided as
crop protection agents, such as drench, drip and spray liquors,
comprising the composition of the invention. The application forms
may comprise further crop protection agents and/or pesticidal
agents, and/or activity-enhancing adjuvants such as penetrants,
examples being vegetable oils such as, for example, rapeseed oil,
sunflower oil, mineral oils such as, for example, liquid paraffins,
alkyl esters of vegetable fatty acids, such as rapeseed oil or
soybean oil methyl esters, or alkanol alkoxylates, and/or spreaders
such as, for example, alkylsiloxanes and/or salts, examples being
organic or inorganic ammonium or phosphonium salts, examples being
ammonium sulphate or diammonium hydrogen phosphate, and/or
retention promoters such as dioctyl sulphosuccinate or
hydroxypropylguar polymers and/or humectants such as glycerol
and/or fertilizers such as ammonium, potassium or phosphorous
fertilizers, for example.
[0098] Examples of typical formulations include water-soluble
liquids (SL), emulsifiable concentrates (EC), emulsions in water
(EW), suspension concentrates (SC, SE, FS, OD), water-dispersible
granules (WG), granules (GR) and capsule concentrates (CS); these
and other possible types of formulation are described, for example,
by Crop Life International and in Pesticide Specifications, Manual
on Development and Use of FAO and WHO Specifications for
Pesticides, FAO Plant Production and Protection Papers--173,
prepared by the FAO/WHO Joint Meeting on Pesticide Specifications,
2004, ISBN: 9251048576. The formulations may comprise active
agrochemical compounds other than one or more active compounds of
the invention.
[0099] The formulations or application forms of the composition in
question preferably comprise auxiliaries, such as extenders,
solvents, spontaneity promoters, carriers, emulsifiers,
dispersants, frost protectants, biocides, thickeners and/or other
auxiliaries, such as adjuvants, for example. An adjuvant in this
context is a component which enhances the biological effect of the
formulation, without the component itself having a biological
effect. Examples of adjuvants are agents which promote the
retention, spreading, attachment to the leaf surface, or
penetration.
[0100] These formulations are produced in a known manner, for
example by mixing the active compounds with auxiliaries such as,
for example, extenders, solvents and/or solid carriers and/or
further auxiliaries, such as, for example, surfactants. The
formulations are prepared in suitable plants or else before or
during the application.
[0101] Suitable for use as auxiliaries are substances which are
suitable for imparting to the formulation of the active compound or
the application forms prepared from these formulations (such as,
e.g., usable crop protection agents, such as spray liquors or seed
dressings) particular properties such as certain physical,
technical and/or biological properties.
[0102] Suitable extenders are, for example, water, polar and
nonpolar organic chemical liquids, for example from the classes of
the aromatic and non-aromatic hydrocarbons (such as paraffins,
alkylbenzenes, alkylnaphthalenes, chlorobenzenes), the alcohols and
polyols (which, if appropriate, may also be substituted, etherified
and/or esterified), the ketones (such as acetone, cyclohexanone),
esters (including fats and oils) and (poly)ethers, the
unsubstituted and substituted amines, amides, lactams (such as
N-alkylpyrrolidones) and lactones, the sulphones and sulphoxides
(such as dimethyl sulphoxide).
[0103] If the extender used is water, it is also possible to
employ, for example, organic solvents as auxiliary solvents.
Essentially, suitable liquid solvents are: aromatics such as
xylene, toluene or alkylnaphthalenes, chlorinated aromatics and
chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons such as chlorobenzenes,
chloroethylenes or methylene chloride, aliphatic hydrocarbons such
as cyclohexane or paraffins, for example petroleum fractions,
mineral and vegetable oils, alcohols such as butanol or glycol and
also their ethers and esters, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl
ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, strongly polar
solvents such as dimethylformamide and dimethyl sulphoxide, and
also water.
[0104] In principle it is possible to use all suitable solvents.
Suitable solvents are, for example, aromatic hydrocarbons, such as
xylene, toluene or alkylnaphthalenes, for example, chlorinated
aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons, such as chlorobenzene,
chloroethylene or methylene chloride, for example, aliphatic
hydrocarbons, such as cyclohexane, for example, paraffins,
petroleum fractions, mineral and vegetable oils, alcohols, such as
methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, butanol or glycol, for example, and
also their ethers and esters, ketones such as acetone, methyl ethyl
ketone, methyl isobutyl ketone or cyclohexanone, for example,
strongly polar solvents, such as dimethyl sulphoxide, and
water.
[0105] All suitable carriers may in principle be used. Suitable
carriers are in particular: for example, ammonium salts and ground
natural minerals such as kaolins, clays, talc, chalk, quartz,
attapulgite, montmorillonite or diatomaceous earth, and ground
synthetic minerals, such as finely divided silica, alumina and
natural or synthetic silicates, resins, waxes and/or solid
fertilizers. Mixtures of such carriers may likewise be used.
Carriers suitable for granules include the following: for example,
crushed and fractionated natural minerals such as calcite, marble,
pumice, sepiolite, dolomite, and also synthetic granules of
inorganic and organic meals, and also granules of organic material
such as sawdust, paper, coconut shells, maize cobs and tobacco
stalks.
[0106] Liquefied gaseous extenders or solvents may also be used.
Particularly suitable are those extenders or carriers which at
standard temperature and under standard pressure are gaseous,
examples being aerosol propellants, such as halogenated
hydrocarbons, and also butane, propane, nitrogen and carbon
dioxide.
[0107] Examples of emulsifiers and/or foam-formers, dispersants or
wetting agents having ionic or nonionic properties, or mixtures of
these surface-active substances, are salts of polyacrylic acid,
salts of lignosulphonic acid, salts of phenolsulphonic acid or
naphthalenesulphonic acid, polycondensates of ethylene oxide with
fatty alcohols or with fatty acids or with fatty amines, with
substituted phenols (preferably alkylphenols or arylphenols), such
as polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate, salts of sulphosuccinic
esters, taurine derivatives (preferably alkyltaurates), phosphoric
esters of polyethoxylated alcohols or phenols, fatty acid esters of
polyols, and derivatives of the compounds containing sulphates,
sulphonates and phosphates, examples being alkylaryl polyglycol
ethers, alkylsulphonates, alkyl sulphates, arylsulphonates, protein
hydrolysates, lignin-sulphite waste liquors and methylcellulose.
The presence of a surface-active substance is advantageous if one
of the active compounds and/or one of the inert carriers is not
soluble in water and if application takes place in water.
[0108] Further auxiliaries that may be present in the formulations
and in the application forms derived from them include colorants
such as inorganic pigments, examples being iron oxide, titanium
oxide, Prussian Blue, and organic dyes, such as alizarin dyes, azo
dyes and metal phthalocyanine dyes, and nutrients and trace
nutrients, such as salts of iron, manganese, boron, copper, cobalt,
molybdenum and zinc.
[0109] Stabilizers, such as low-temperature stabilizers,
preservatives, antioxidants, light stabilizers or other agents
which improve chemical and/or physical stability may also be
present. Additionally present may be foam-formers or defoamers.
[0110] Furthermore, the formulations and application forms derived
from them may also comprise, as additional auxiliaries, stickers
such as carboxymethylcellulose, natural and synthetic polymers in
powder, granule or latex form, such as gum arabic, polyvinyl
alcohol, polyvinyl acetate, and also natural phospholipids, such as
cephalins and lecithins, and synthetic phospholipids. Further
possible auxiliaries include mineral and vegetable oils.
[0111] There may possibly be further auxiliaries present in the
formulations and the application forms derived from them. Examples
of such additives include fragrances, protective colloids, binders,
adhesives, thickeners, thixotropic substances, penetrants,
retention promoters, stabilizers, sequestrants, complexing agents,
humectants and spreaders. Generally speaking, the active compounds
may be combined with any solid or liquid additive commonly used for
formulation purposes.
[0112] Suitable retention promoters include all those substances
which reduce the dynamic surface tension, such as dioctyl
sulphosuccinate, or increase the viscoelasticity, such as
hydroxypropylguar polymers, for example.
[0113] Suitable penetrants in the present context include all those
substances which are typically used in order to enhance the
penetration of active agrochemical compounds into plants.
Penetrants in this context are defined in that, from the (generally
aqueous) application liquor and/or from the spray coating, they are
able to penetrate the cuticle of the plant and thereby increase the
mobility of the active compounds in the cuticle. This property can
be determined using the method described in the literature (Baur,
et al., 1997, Pesticide Science 51, 131-152). Examples include
alcohol alkoxylates such as coconut fatty ethoxylate (10) or
isotridecyl ethoxylate (12), fatty acid esters such as rapeseed or
soybean oil methyl esters, fatty amine alkoxylates such as
tallowamine ethoxylate (15), or ammonium and/or phosphonium salts
such as ammonium sulphate or diammonium hydrogen phosphate, for
example.
[0114] The present invention also relates to a seed treated or
coated with the composition according the invention.
[0115] The control of phytopathogens by treating the seed of plants
has been known for a long time and is a subject of continual
improvements. Nevertheless, the treatment of seed entails a series
of problems which cannot always be solved in a satisfactory manner
Thus, it is desirable to develop methods for protecting the seed
and the germinating plant that remove the need for, or at least
significantly reduce, the additional delivery of crop protection
compositions in the course of storage, after sowing or after the
emergence of the plants.
[0116] The present invention therefore also relates in particular
to a method for protecting seed and germinating plants from attack
by plant pathogens, by treating the seed with the composition of
the present invention. The method of the invention for protecting
seed and germinating plants from attack by plant pathogens
encompasses a method in which the seed is treated simultaneously in
one operation with the composition according to the invention, and
optionally at least one further fungicide, bactericide and/or
insecticide. It also encompasses a method in which the seed is
treated at different times, i.e. sequentially, with the compounds
according to item a) and item b), and optionally the at least one
fungicide, bactericide and/or the at least one insecticide.
[0117] The invention likewise relates to the use of the composition
of the invention for treating seed for the purpose of protecting
the seed and the resultant plant against fungal phytopathogens.
[0118] The invention also relates to seed which at the same time
has been treated with the compounds according to item a) and item
b), and optionally at least one fungicide, bactericide and/or the
at least one insecticide. The invention further relates to seed
which has been treated at different times with the compounds
according to item a) and item b) and optionally the at least one
fungicide, bactericide and/or the at least one insecticide. In the
case of seed which has been treated at different times with the
compounds according to item a) and item b), and optionally the at
least one fungicide, bactericide and/or the at least one
insecticide, the individual active ingredients in the composition
of the invention may be present in different layers on the
seed.
[0119] Furthermore, the invention relates to seed which, following
treatment with the composition of the invention, is subjected to a
film-coating process in order to prevent dust abrasion of the
seed.
[0120] One of the advantages of the present invention is that the
treatment of the seed with these compositions provides protection
at least from phytopathogens not only to the seed itself but also
to the plants originating from the seed, after they have emerged.
In this way, it may not be necessary to treat the crop directly at
the time of sowing or shortly thereafter.
[0121] A further advantage is to be seen in the fact that, through
the treatment of the seed with composition of the invention,
germination and emergence of the treated seed may be promoted.
[0122] It is likewise considered to be advantageous that the
composition of the invention may also be used, in particular, on
transgenic seed.
[0123] It is also stated that the composition of the invention may
be used in combination with agents of the signaling technology, as
a result of which, for example, colonization with symbionts is
improved, such as rhizobia, mycorrhiza and/or endophytic bacteria,
for example, is enhanced, and/or nitrogen fixation is
optimized.
[0124] The compositions of the invention are suitable for
protecting seed of any variety of plant which is used in
agriculture, in greenhouses, in forestry or in horticulture. More
particularly, the seed in question is that of cereals (e.g., wheat,
barley, rye, oats and millet), maize, cotton, soybeans, rice,
potatoes, sunflower, coffee, tobacco, canola, oilseed rape, beets
(e.g., sugar beet and fodder beet), peanuts, vegetables (e.g.,
tomato, cucumber, bean, brassicas, onions and lettuce), fruit
plants, lawns and ornamentals. Particularly important is the
treatment of the seed of cereals (such as wheat, barley, rye and
oats) maize, soybeans, cotton, canola, oilseed rape and rice.
[0125] As already mentioned above, the treatment of transgenic seed
with the composition of the invention is particularly important.
The seed in question here is that of plants which generally contain
at least one heterologous gene that controls the expression of a
polypeptide having, in particular, insecticidal and/or nematicidal
properties. These heterologous genes in transgenic seed may come
from microorganisms such as Bacillus, Rhizobium, Pseudomonas,
Serratia, Trichoderma, Clavibacter, Glomus or Gliocladium. The
present invention is particularly suitable for the treatment of
transgenic seed which contains at least one heterologous gene from
Bacillus sp. With particular preference, the heterologous gene in
question comes from Bacillus thuringiensis.
[0126] For the purposes of the present invention, the composition
of the invention is applied alone or in a suitable formulation to
the seed. The seed is preferably treated in a condition in which
its stability is such that no damage occurs in the course of the
treatment. Generally speaking, the seed may be treated at any point
in time between harvesting and sowing. Typically, seed is used
which has been separated from the plant and has had cobs, hulls,
stems, husks, hair or pulp removed. Thus, for example, seed may be
used that has been harvested, cleaned and dried to a moisture
content of less than 15% by weight. Alternatively, seed can also be
used that after drying has been treated with water, for example,
and then dried again.
[0127] When treating seed it is necessary, generally speaking, to
ensure that the amount of the composition of the invention, and/or
of other additives, that is applied to the seed is selected such
that the germination of the seed is not adversely affected, and/or
that the plant which emerges from the seed is not damaged. This is
the case in particular with active ingredients which may exhibit
phytotoxic effects at certain application rates. The compositions
of the invention can be applied directly, in other words without
comprising further components and without having been diluted. As a
general rule, it is preferable to apply the compositions in the
form of a suitable formulation to the seed. Suitable formulations
and methods for seed treatment are known to the skilled person and
are described in, for example, the following documents: U.S. Pat.
Nos. 4,272,417 A; 4,245,432 A; 4,808,430 A; 5,876,739 A; U.S.
Patent Publication No. 2003/0176428 Al; WO 2002/080675 Al; WO
2002/028186 A2.
[0128] The combinations which can be used in accordance with the
invention may be converted into the customary seed-dressing
formulations, such as solutions, emulsions, suspensions, powders,
foams, slurries or other coating compositions for seed, and also
ULV formulations.
[0129] These formulations are prepared in a known manner, by mixing
composition with customary adjuvants, such as, for example,
customary extenders and also solvents or diluents, colorants,
wetters, dispersants, emulsifiers, antifoams, preservatives,
secondary thickeners, stickers, gibberellins, and also water.
[0130] Colorants which may be present in the seed-dressing
formulations which can be used in accordance with the invention
include all colorants which are customary for such purposes. In
this context it is possible to use not only pigments, which are of
low solubility in water, but also water-soluble dyes. Examples
include the colorants known under the designations Rhodamin B, C.I.
Pigment Red 112 and C.I. Solvent Red 1.
[0131] Wetters which may be present in the seed-dressing
formulations which can be used in accordance with the invention
include all of the substances which promote wetting and which are
customary in the formulation of active agrochemical ingredients.
Use may be made preferably of alkylnaphthalenesulphonates, such as
diisopropyl- or diisobutyl-naphthalenesulphonates.
[0132] Dispersants and/or emulsifiers which may be present in the
seed-dressing formulations which can be used in accordance with the
invention include all of the nonionic, anionic and cationic
dispersants that are customary in the formulation of active
agrochemical ingredients. Use may be made preferably of nonionic or
anionic dispersants or of mixtures of nonionic or anionic
dispersants. Suitable nonionic dispersants are, in particular,
ethylene oxide-propylene oxide block polymers, alkylphenol
polyglycol ethers and also tristryrylphenol polyglycol ethers, and
the phosphated or sulphated derivatives of these. Suitable anionic
dispersants are, in particular, lignosulphonates, salts of
polyacrylic acid, and arylsulphonate-formaldehyde condensates.
Antifoams which may be present in the seed-dressing formulations
which can be used in accordance with the invention include all of
the foam inhibitors that are customary in the formulation of active
agrochemical ingredients. Use may be made preferably of silicone
antifoams and magnesium stearate.
[0133] Preservatives which may be present in the seed-dressing
formulations which can be used in accordance with the invention
include all of the substances which can be employed for such
purposes in agrochemical compositions. Examples include
dichlorophen and benzyl alcohol hemiformal.
[0134] Secondary thickeners which may be present in the
seed-dressing formulations which can be used in accordance with the
invention include all substances which can be used for such
purposes in agrochemical compositions. Those contemplated with
preference include cellulose derivatives, acrylic acid derivatives,
xanthan, modified clays and highly disperse silica.
[0135] Stickers which may be present in the seed-dressing
formulations which can be used in accordance with the invention
include all customary binders which can be used in seed-dressing
products. Preferred mention may be made of polyvinylpyrrolidone,
polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol and tylose.
[0136] Gibberellins which may be present in the seed-dressing
formulations which can be used in accordance with the invention
include preferably the gibberellins A1, A3 (=gibberellic acid), A4
and A7, with gibberellic acid being used with particular
preference. The gibberellins are known (cf. R. Wegler, "Chemie der
Pflanzenschutz- and Schadlingsbekampfungsmittel", Volume 2,
Springer Verlag, 1970, pp. 401-412).
[0137] The seed-dressing formulations which can be used in
accordance with the invention may be used, either directly or after
prior dilution with water, to treat seed of any of a wide variety
of types. Accordingly, the concentrates or the preparations
obtainable from them by dilution with water may be employed to
dress the seed of cereals, such as wheat, barley, rye, oats and
triticale, and also the seed of maize, rice, oilseed rape, peas,
beans, cotton, sunflowers and beets, or else the seed of any of a
very wide variety of vegetables. The seed-dressing formulations
which can be used in accordance with the invention, or their
diluted preparations, may also be used to dress seed of transgenic
plants. In that case, additional synergistic effects may occur in
interaction with the substances formed through expression.
[0138] For the treatment of seed with the seed-dressing
formulations which can be used in accordance with the invention, or
with the preparations produced from them by addition of water,
suitable mixing equipment includes all such equipment which can
typically be employed for seed dressing. More particularly, the
procedure when carrying out seed dressing is to place the seed in a
mixer, to add the particular desired amount of seed-dressing
formulations, either as such or following dilution with water
beforehand, and to carry out mixing until the distribution of the
formulation on the seed is uniform. This may be followed by a
drying operation.
[0139] The application rate of the seed-dressing formulations which
can be used in accordance with the invention may be varied within a
relatively wide range. Typically, the bacterium active against at
least one plant pathogen when applied to a seed is applied at a
rate of about 1.times.10.sup.2 to about 1.times.10.sup.7 cfu/seed,
depending on the size of the seed. In some embodiments, the
application rate is about 1.times.10.sup.3 to about
1.times.10.sup.6 cfu per seed.
[0140] Also disclosed is the use of the composition according to
the invention as fungicide and/or bactericide.
[0141] Non-limiting examples of pathogens of fungal diseases
include:
[0142] diseases caused by powdery mildew pathogens, for example
members of the Erysiphales. Known species causing powedery mildew
include Blumeria species, for example Blumeria graminis;
Podosphaera species, for example Podosphaera leucotricha;
Sphaerotheca species, for example Sphaerotheca fuliginea; Uncinula
species, for example Uncinula necator;
[0143] diseases caused by rust disease pathogens, for example
Gymnosporangium species, for example Gymnosporangium sabinae;
Hemileia species, for example Hemileia vastatrix; Phakopsora
species, for example Phakopsora pachyrhizi and Phakopsora
meibomiae; Puccinia species, for example Puccinia recondite, P.
triticina, P. graminis or P. striiformis or P. hordei; Uromyces
species, for example Uromyces appendiculatus;
[0144] diseases caused by pathogens from the group of the
Oomycetes, for example Albugo species, for example Algubo candida;
Bremia species, for example Bremia lactucae; Peronospora species,
for example Peronospora pisi, P. parasitica or P. brassicae;
Phytophthora species, for example Phytophthora infestans;
Plasmopara species, for example Plasmopara viticola;
Pseudoperonospora species, for example Pseudoperonospora humuli or
Pseudoperonospora cubensis; Pythium species, for example Pythium
ultimum;
[0145] leaf blotch diseases and leaf wilt diseases caused, for
example, by Alternaria species, for example Alternaria solani;
Cercospora species, for example Cercospora beticola; Cladiosporium
species, for example Cladiosporium cucumerinum; Cochliobolus
species, for example Cochliobolus sativus (conidia form:
Drechslera, Syn: Helminthosporium), Cochliobolus miyabeanus;
Colletotrichum species, for example Colletotrichum lindemuthanium;
Cycloconium species, for example Cycloconium oleaginum; Diaporthe
species, for example Diaporthe citri; Elsinoe species, for example
Elsinoe fawcettii; Gloeosporium species, for example Gloeosporium
laeticolor; Glomerella species, for example Glomerella cingulata;
Guignardia species, for example Guignardia bidwelli; Leptosphaeria
species, for example Leptosphaeria maculans, Leptosphaeria nodorum;
Magnaporthe species, for example Magnaporthe grisea; Microdochium
species, for example Microdochium nivale; Mycosphaerella species,
for example Mycosphaerella graminicola, M. arachidicola and M.
fijiensis; Phaeosphaeria species, for example Phaeosphaeria
nodorum; Pyrenophora species, for example Pyrenophora teres,
Pyrenophora tritici repentis; Ramularia species, for example
Ramularia collo-cygni, Ramularia areola; Rhynchosporium species,
for example Rhynchosporium secalis;
[0146] Septoria species, for example Septoria apii, Septoria
lycopersii; Typhula species, for example Typhula incarnata;
Venturia species, for example Venturia inaequalis;
[0147] root and stem diseases caused, for example, by Corticium
species, for example Corticium graminearum; Fusarium species, for
example Fusarium oxysporum; Gaeumannomyces species, for example
Gaeumannomyces graminis; Rhizoctonia species, such as, for example
Rhizoctonia solani; Sarocladium diseases caused for example by
Sarocladium oryzae; Sclerotium diseases caused for example by
Sclerotium oryzae; Tapesia species, for example Tapesia acuformis;
Thielaviopsis species, for example Thielaviopsis basicola;
[0148] ear and panicle diseases (including corn cobs) caused, for
example, by Alternaria species, for example Alternaria spp.;
Aspergillus species, for example Aspergillus flavus; Cladosporium
species, for example Cladosporium cladosporioides; Claviceps
species, for example Claviceps purpurea; Fusarium species, for
example Fusarium culmorum; Gibberella species, for example
Gibberella zeae; Monographella species, for example Monographella
nivalis; Septoria species, for example Septoria nodorum;
[0149] diseases caused by smut fungi, for example Sphacelotheca
species, for example Sphacelotheca reiliana; Tilletia species, for
example Tilletia caries, T. controversa; Urocystis species, for
example Urocystis occulta; Ustilago species, for example Ustilago
nuda, U. nuda tritici;
[0150] fruit rot caused, for example, by Aspergillus species, for
example Aspergillus flavus; Botrytis species, for example Botrytis
cinerea; Penicillium species, for example Penicillium expansum and
P. purpurogenum; Sclerotinia species, for example Sclerotinia
sclerotiorum; Verticilium species, for example Verticilium
alboatrum;
[0151] seed and soilborne decay, mould, wilt, rot and damping-off
diseases caused, for example, by Alternaria species, caused for
example by Alternaria brassicicola; Aphanomyces species, caused for
example by Aphanomyces euteiches; Ascochyta species, caused for
example by Ascochyta lentis; Aspergillus species, caused for
example by Aspergillus flavus; Cladosporium species, caused for
example by Cladosporium herbarum; Cochliobolus species, caused for
example by Cochliobolus sativus; (Conidiaform: Drechslera,
Bipolaris Syn: Helminthosporium); Colletotrichum species, caused
for example by Colletotrichum coccodes; Fusarium species, caused
for example by Fusarium culmorum; Gibberella species, caused for
example by Gibberella zeae; Macrophomina species, caused for
example by Macrophomina phaseolina; Monographella species, caused
for example by Monographella nivalis; Penicillium species, caused
for example by Penicillium expansum; Phoma species, caused for
example by Phoma lingam; Phomopsis species, caused for example by
Phomopsis sojae; Phytophthora species, caused for example by
Phytophthora cactorum; Pyrenophora species, caused for example by
Pyrenophora graminea; Pyricularia species, caused for example by
Pyricularia oryzae; Pythium species, caused for example by Pythium
ultimum; Rhizoctonia species, caused for example by Rhizoctonia
solani; Rhizopus species, caused for example by Rhizopus oryzae;
Sclerotium species, caused for example by Sclerotium rolfsii;
Septoria species, caused for example by Septoria nodorum; Typhula
species, caused for example by Typhula incarnata; Verticillium
species, caused for example by Verticillium dahliae;
[0152] cancers, galls and witches' broom caused, for example, by
Nectria species, for example Nectria galligena;
[0153] wilt diseases caused, for example, by Monilinia species, for
example Monilinia laxa; leaf blister or leaf curl diseases caused,
for example, by Exobasidium species, for example Exobasidium
vexans;
[0154] Taphrina species, for example Taphrina deformans;
[0155] decline diseases of wooden plants caused, for example, by
Esca disease, caused for example by Phaemoniella clamydospora,
Phaeoacremonium aleophilum and Fomitiporia mediterranea; Eutypa
dyeback, caused for example by Eutypa lata; Ganoderma diseases
caused for example by Ganoderma boninense; Rigidoporus diseases
caused for example by Rigidoporus lignosus;
[0156] diseases of flowers and seeds caused, for example, by
Botrytis species, for example Botrytis cinerea;
[0157] diseases of plant tubers caused, for example, by Rhizoctonia
species, for example Rhizoctonia solani; Helminthosporium species,
for example Helminthosporium solani;
[0158] Club root caused, for example, by Plasmodiophora species,
for example Plamodiophora brassicae;
[0159] diseases caused by bacterial pathogens, for example
Xanthomonas species, for example Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae;
Pseudomonas species, for example Pseudomonas syringae pv.
lachrymans; Erwinia species, for example Erwinia amylovora.
[0160] The following diseases of soya beans could be
controlled:
[0161] Fungal diseases on leaves, stems, pods and seeds caused, for
example, by Alternaria leaf spot (Alternaria spec. atrans
tenuissima), Anthracnose (Colletotrichum gloeosporoides dematium
var. truncatum), brown spot (Septoria glycines), cercospora leaf
spot and blight (Cercospora kikuchii), Choanephora leaf blight
(Choanephora infundibulifera trispora (Syn.)), Dactuliophora leaf
spot (Dactuliophora glycines), downy mildew (Peronospora
manshurica), Drechslera blight (Drechslera glycini), frogeye leaf
spot (Cercospora sojina), Leptosphaerulina leaf spot
(Leptosphaerulina trifolii), Phyllostica leaf spot (Phyllosticta
sojaecola), pod and stem blight (Phomopsis sojae), powdery mildew
(Microsphaera diffusa), Pyrenochaeta leaf spot (Pyrenochaeta
glycines), Rhizoctonia aerial, foliage, and web blight (Rhizoctonia
solani), rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi, Phakopsora meibomiae), scab
(Sphaceloma glycines), Stemphylium leaf blight (Stemphylium
botryosum), target spot (Corynespora cassiicola).
[0162] Fungal diseases on roots and the stem base caused, for
example, by black root rot (Calonectria crotalariae), charcoal rot
(Macrophomina phaseolina), Fusarium blight or wilt, root rot, and
pod and collar rot (Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium orthoceras,
Fusarium semitectum, Fusarium equiseti), Mycoleptodiscus root rot
(Mycoleptodiscus terrestris), Neocosmospora (Neocosmospora
vasinfecta), pod and stem blight (Diaporthe phaseolorum), stem
canker (Diaporthe phaseolorum var. caulivora), Phytophthora rot
(Phytophthora megasperma), brown stem rot (Phialophora gregata),
Pythium rot (Pythium aphanidermatum, Pythium irregulare, Pythium
debaryanum, Pythium myriotylum, Pythium ultimum), Rhizoctonia root
rot, stem decay, and damping-off (Rhizoctonia solani), Sclerotinia
stem decay (Sclerotinia sclerotiorum), Sclerotinia southern blight
(Sclerotinia rolfsii), Thielaviopsis root rot (Thielaviopsis
basicola).
[0163] In addition, the compound and the composition of the
invention may reduce the mycotoxin content in the harvested
material and the foods and feeds prepared therefrom. Mycotoxins
include particularly, but not exclusively, the following:
deoxynivalenol (DON), nivalenol, 15-Ac-DON, 3-Ac-DON, T2- and
HT2-toxin, fumonisins, zearalenon, moniliformin, fusarin,
diaceotoxyscirpenol (DAS), beauvericin, enniatin, fusaroproliferin,
fusarenol, ochratoxins, patulin, ergot alkaloids and aflatoxins
which can be produced, for example, by the following fungi:
Fusarium spec., such as F. acuminatum, F. asiaticum, F. avenaceum,
F. crookwellense, F. culmorum, F. graminearum (Gibberella zeae), F.
equiseti, F. fujikoroi, F. musarum, F. oxysporum, F. proliferatum,
F. poae, F. pseudograminearum, F. sambucinum, F. scirpi, F.
semitectum, F. solani, F. sporotrichoides, F. langsethiae, F.
subglutinans, F. tricinctum, F. verticillioides etc., and also by
Aspergillus spec., such as A. flavus, A. parasiticus, A. nomius, A.
ochraceus, A. clavatus, A. terreus, A. versicolor, Penicillium
spec., such as P. verrucosum, P. viridicatum, P. citrinum, P.
expansum, P. claviforme, P. roqueforti, Claviceps spec., such as C.
purpurea, C. fusiformis, C. paspali, C. africana, Stachybotrys
spec. and others.
[0164] Preferred fungal plant pathogens to be treated according to
the invention comprise species of genus Botrytis, Alternaria,
Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia, Fusarium, Pythium, Uncinula, Leveillula,
Sclerotium, Thielaviopsis, Verticillium, Magnaporthe, Ustilago,
Phakospora, Puccinia, Colletotrichum, Phytophthora and Armillaria
and powdery mildew. Often the plant pathogen is one or more species
of genus Botrytis, Alternaria, Rhizoctonia, Sclerotinia, Fusarium,
Pythium, Uncinula, Leveillula, Phytophthora and Sclerotium. For
instance, the fungus may be selected from Botrytis cinerea,
Rhizoctonia solani, Uncinula necator, Leveillula taurica, Pythium
ultimum, Sclerotium rolfsii, Magnaporthe oryzae, Fusarium
graminearum, Blumeria graminis, Mycosphaerella graminicola,
Ustilago maydis, Melampsora lini, Phytophthora infestans, Fusarium
oxysporum and Fusarium oxysporum lycopersici.
[0165] More preferably, the plant pathogen is a strain of a genus
selected from the group consisting of Venturia, Sclerotinia,
Rhizoctonia, Phytium, Alternaria, Botrytis, Phytophthora, Puccinia,
Blumeria, Fusarium and Septoria.
[0166] Non-limiting examples of bacterial phytopathogens include
those of the families Pseudomonadaceae, Rhizobiaceae,
Xanthomonadaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, Corynebacteriaceae and
Streptomycetaceae, more particularly Xanthomonas species, for
example Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae; Pseudomonas species, for
example Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans; Erwinia species, for
example Erwinia amylovora; Liberibacter species, for example
Liberibacter asiaticus; Xyella species, for example Xylella
fastidiosa; Ralstonia species, for example Ralstonia solanacearum;
Dickeya species, for example Dickeya solani; Clavibacter species,
for example Clavibacter michiganensis; Streptomyces species, for
example Streptomyces scabies.
[0167] Specific examples of bacterial plant pathogens also
include
[0168] Acidovorax avenae (=Pseudomonas avenae, Pseudomonas avenae
subsp. avenae, Pseudomonas rubrilineans), including e.g. Acidovorax
avenae subsp. avenae (=Pseudomonas avenae subsp. avenae),
Acidovorax avenae subsp. cattleyae (=Pseudomonas cattleyae),
Acidovorax avenae subsp. citrulli (=Pseudomonas pseudoalcaligenes
subsp. citrulli, Pseudomonas avenae subsp. citrulli));
[0169] Burkholderia spec., including e.g. Burkholderia andropogonis
(=Pseudomonas andropogonis, Pseudomonas woodsii), Burkholderia
caryophylli (=Pseudomonas caryophylli), Burkholderia cepacia
(=Pseudomonas cepacia), Burkholderia gladioli (=Pseudomonas
gladioli), Burkholderia gladioli pv. agaricicola (=Pseudomnas
gladioli pv. agaricicola), Burkholderia gladioli pv. alliicola
(=Pseusomonas gladioli pv. alliicola), Burkholderia gladioli pv.
gladioli (=Pseudomonas gladioli, Pseudomonas gladioli pv.
gladioli), Burkholderia glumae (=Pseudomonas glumae),Burkholderia
plantarii (=Pseudomonas plantarii) Burkholderia solanacearum
(=Ralstonia solanacearum), and Ralstonia spp.;
[0170] Liberibacter spp., including Candidatus Liberibacter spec.,
including e.g. Liberibacter africanus (Laf), Liberibacter
americanus (Lam), Liberibacter asiaticus (Las), Liberibacter
europaeus (Leu), Liberibacter psyllaurous, Liberibacter
solanacearum (Lso);
[0171] Corynebacterium, including e.g. Corynebacterium fascians,
Corynebacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens, Corynebacterium
michiganensis, Corynebacterium michiganense pv. tritici,
Corynebacterium michiganense pv. nebraskense, Corynebacterium
sepedonicum;
[0172] Erwinia spec. including e.g. Erwinia amylovora, Erwinia
ananas, Erwinia carotovora (=Pectobacterium carotovorum), Erwinia
carotovora subsp. atroseptica, Erwinia carotovora subsp.
carotovora, Erwinia chrysanthemi, Erwinia chrysanthemi pv. zeae,
Erwinia dissolvens, Erwinia herbicola, Erwinia rhapontic, Erwinia
stewartiii, Erwinia tracheiphila, Erwinia uredovora;
[0173] Pseudomonas syringae, including e.g. Pseudomonas syringae
pv. actinidiae (Psa), Pseudomonas syringae pv. atrofaciens,
Pseudomonas syringae pv. coronafaciens, Pseudomonas syringae pv.
glycinea, Pseudomonas syringae pv. lachrymans, Pseudomonas syringae
pv. maculicola Pseudomonas syringae pv. papulans, Pseudomonas
syringae pv. striafaciens, Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae,
Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato, Pseudomonas syringae pv.
tabaci;
[0174] Streptomyces ssp., including e.g. Streptomyces acidiscabies,
Streptomyces albidoflavus, Streptomyces candidus (=Actinomyces
candidus), Streptomyces caviscabies, Streptomyces collinus,
Streptomyces europaeiscabiei, Streptomyces intermedius,
Streptomyces ipomoeae, Streptomyces luridiscabiei, Streptomyces
niveiscabiei, Streptomyces puniciscabiei, Streptomyces
retuculiscabiei, Streptomyces scabiei, Streptomyces scabies,
Streptomyces setonii, Streptomyces steliiscabiei, Streptomyces
turgidiscabies, Streptomyces wedmorensis;
[0175] Xanthomonas axonopodis, including e.g. Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. alfalfae (=Xanthomonas alfalfae), Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. aurantifolii (=Xanthomonas fuscans subsp.
aurantifolii), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. allii (=Xanthomonas
campestris pv. allii), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. axonopodis,
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. bauhiniae (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
bauhiniae), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. begoniae (=Xanthomonas
campestris pv. begoniae), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. betlicola
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. betlicola), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.
biophyti (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. biophyti), Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. cajani (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. cajani),
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. cassavae (=Xanthomonas cassavae,
Xanthomonas campestris pv. cassavae), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.
cassiae (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. cassiae), Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. citri (=Xanthomonas citri), Xanthomonas axonopodis
pv. citrumelo (=Xanthomonas alfalfae subsp. citrumelonis),
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. clitoriae (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
clitoriae), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. coracanae (=Xanthomonas
campestris pv. coracanae), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. cyamopsidis
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. cyamopsidis), Xanthomonas axonopodis
pv. desmodii (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. desmodii), Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. desmodiigangetici (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
desmodiigangetici), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. desmodiilaxiflori
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. desmodiilaxiflori), Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. desmodiirotundifolii (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
desmodiirotundifolii), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. dieffenbachiae
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. dieffenbachiae), Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. erythrinae (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. erythrinae),
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. fascicularis (=Xanthomonas campestris
pv. fasciculari), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. glycines (=Xanthomonas
campestris pv. glycines), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. khayae
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. khayae), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.
lespedezae (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. lespedezae), Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. maculifoliigardeniae (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
maculifoliigardeniae), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. malvacearum
(=Xanthomonas citri subsp. malvacearum), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.
manihotis (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. manihotis), Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. martyniicola (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
martyniicola), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. melhusii (=Xanthomonas
campestris pv. melhusii), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.
nakataecorchori (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. nakataecorchori),
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. passiflorae (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
passiflorae), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. patelii (=Xanthomonas
campestris pv. patelii), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. pedalii
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. pedalii), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.
phaseoli (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. phaseoli, Xanthomonas
phaseoli), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli var. fuscans
(=Xanthomonas fuscans), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phyllanthi
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. phyllanthi), Xanthomonas axonopodis
pv. physalidicola (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. physalidicola),
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. poinsettiicola (=Xanthomonas campestris
pv. poinsettiicola), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. punicae
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. punicae), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv.
rhynchosiae (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. rhynchosiae), Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. ricini (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. ricini),
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. sesbaniae (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
sesbaniae), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. tamarindi (=Xanthomonas
campestris pv. tamarindi), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vasculorum
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. vasculorum), Xanthomonas axonopodis
pv. vesicatoria (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria,
Xanthomonas vesicatoria), Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vignaeradiatae
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. vignaeradiatae), Xanthomonas
axonopodis pv. vignicola (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. vignicola),
Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. vitians (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
vitians);
[0176] Xanthomonas campestris pv. musacearum, Xanthomonas
campestris pv. pruni (=Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni),
Xanthomonas fragariae;
[0177] Xanthomonas translucens (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. hordei)
including e.g. Xanthomonas translucens pv. arrhenatheri
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. arrhenatheri), Xanthomonas translucens
pv. cerealis (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. cerealis), Xanthomonas
translucens pv. graminis (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. graminis),
Xanthomonas translucens pv. phlei (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
phlei), Xanthomonas translucens pv. phleipratensis (=Xanthomonas
campestris pv. phleipratensis), Xanthomonas translucens pv. poae
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. poae), Xanthomonas translucens pv.
secalis (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. secalis), Xanthomonas
translucens pv. translucens (=Xanthomonas campestris pv.
translucens), Xanthomonas translucens pv. undulosa (=Xanthomonas
campestris pv. undulosa).
[0178] Xanthomonas oryzae, Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae
(=Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzae), Xanthomonas oryzae pv.
oryzicola (=Xanthomonas campestris pv. oryzicola).
[0179] Xylella fastidiosa from the family of Xanthomonadaceae.
[0180] The composition according to the present invention can be
used for curative or protective/preventive control of
phytopathogenic fungi and/or bacteria. The invention therefore also
relates to curative and protective methods for controlling
phytopathogenic fungi and/or bacteria by the use of the inventive
composition, which is applied to the seed, the plant or plant
parts, the fruit or the soil in which the plants grow.
[0181] The fact that the composition is well tolerated by plants at
the rates required for controlling plant diseases allows the
treatment of above-ground parts of plants, of propagation stock and
seeds, and of the soil.
[0182] The use according to the invention is thus preferably for
reducing overall damage of plants and plant parts as well as losses
in harvested fruits or vegetables caused by phytopathogens.
[0183] The composition according to the invention may preferably be
used for treating conventional or transgenic plants or seed
thereof.
[0184] The present invention also relates to a method for enhancing
the action of a biological control agent against plant pathogens,
such as the fungicidal and/or bactericidal actin, comprising mixing
a biological control agent as defined herein with one or more fatty
acids or derivatives thereof as defined herein and applying said
mixture to a plant or seed or a locus where said plant or seed is
intended to be grown.
[0185] According to the invention all plants and plant parts can be
treated. By plants is meant all plants and plant populations such
as desirable and undesirable wild plants, cultivars and plant
varieties (whether or not protectable by plant variety or plant
breeder's rights). Cultivars and plant varieties can be plants
obtained by conventional propagation and breeding methods which can
be assisted or supplemented by one or more biotechnological methods
such as by use of double haploids, protoplast fusion, random and
directed mutagenesis, molecular or genetic markers or by
bioengineering and genetic engineering methods. By plant parts is
meant all above ground and below ground parts and organs of plants
such as shoot, leaf, blossom and root, whereby for example leaves,
needles, stems, branches, blossoms, fruiting bodies, fruits and
seed as well as roots, corms and rhizomes are listed. Crops and
vegetative and generative propagating material, for example
cuttings, corms, rhizomes, runners and seeds also belong to plant
parts.
[0186] The inventive composition, when it is well tolerated by
plants, has favourable homeotherm toxicity and is well tolerated by
the environment, is suitable for protecting plants and plant
organs, for enhancing harvest yields, for improving the quality of
the harvested material. It can preferably be used as crop
protection composition. It is active against normally sensitive and
resistant species and against all or some stages of
development.
[0187] Plants which can be treated in accordance with the invention
include the following main crop plants: maize, soya bean, alfalfa,
cotton, sunflower, Brassica oil seeds such as Brassica napus (e.g.,
canola, rapeseed), Brassica rapa, B. juncea (e.g., (field) mustard)
and Brassica carinata, Arecaceae sp. (e.g., oilpalm, coconut),
rice, wheat, sugar beet, sugar cane, oats, rye, barley, millet and
sorghum, triticale, flax, nuts, grapes and vine and various fruit
and vegetables from various botanic taxa, e.g. Rosaceae sp. (e.g.,
pome fruits such as apples and pears, but also stone fruits such as
apricots, cherries, almonds, plums and peaches, and berry fruits
such as strawberries, raspberries, red and black currant and
gooseberry), Ribesioidae sp., Juglandaceae sp., Betulaceae sp.,
Anacardiaceae sp., Fagaceae sp., Moraceae sp., Oleaceae sp. (e.g.,
olive tree), Actinidaceae sp., Lauraceae sp. (e.g., avocado,
cinnamon, camphor), Musaceae sp. (e.g., banana trees and
plantations), Rubiaceae sp. (e.g., coffee), Theaceae sp. (e.g.,
tea), Sterculiceae sp., Rutaceae sp. (e.g., lemons, oranges,
mandarins and grapefruit); Solanaceae sp. (e.g., tomatoes,
potatoes, peppers, capsicum, aubergines, tobacco), Liliaceae sp.,
Compositae sp. (e.g., lettuce, artichokes and chicory--including
root chicory, endive or common chicory), Umbelliferae sp. (e.g.,
carrots, parsley, celery and celeriac), Cucurbitaceae sp. (e.g.,
cucumbers--including gherkins, pumpkins, watermelons, calabashes
and melons), Alliaceae sp. (e.g., leeks and onions), Cruciferae sp.
(e.g., white cabbage, red cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels
sprouts, pak choi, kohlrabi, radishes, horseradish, cress and
chinese cabbage), Leguminosae sp. (e.g., peanuts, peas, lentils and
beans--e.g., common beans and broad beans), Chenopodiaceae sp.
(e.g., Swiss chard, fodder beet, spinach, beetroot), Linaceae sp.
(e.g., hemp), Cannabeacea sp. (e.g., cannabis), Malvaceae sp.
(e.g., okra, cocoa), Papaveraceae (e.g., poppy), Asparagaceae
(e.g., asparagus); useful plants and ornamental plants in the
garden and woods including turf, lawn, grass and Stevia rebaudiana;
and in each case genetically modified types of these plants. Plants
that may be treated according to the invention include hybrid
plants that already express the characteristic of heterosis or
hybrid vigor which results in generally higher yield, vigor, health
and resistance towards biotic and abiotic stress factors. Such
plants are typically made by crossing an inbred male-sterile parent
line (the female parent) with another inbred male-fertile parent
line (the male parent). Hybrid seed is typically harvested from the
male sterile plants and sold to growers. Male sterile plants can
sometimes (e.g., in corn) be produced by detasseling, i.e., the
mechanical removal of the male reproductive organs (or males
flowers) but, more typically, male sterility is the result of
genetic determinants in the plant genome. In that case, and
especially when seed is the desired product to be harvested from
the hybrid plants it is typically useful to ensure that male
fertility in the hybrid plants is fully restored. This can be
accomplished by ensuring that the male parents have appropriate
fertility restorer genes which are capable of restoring the male
fertility in hybrid plants that contain the genetic determinants
responsible for male-sterility. Genetic determinants for male
sterility may be located in the cytoplasm. Examples of cytoplasmic
male sterility (CMS) were for instance described in Brassica
species. However, genetic determinants for male sterility can also
be located in the nuclear genome. Male sterile plants can also be
obtained by plant biotechnology methods such as genetic
engineering. A particularly useful means of obtaining male-sterile
plants is described in WO 89/10396 in which, for example, a
ribonuclease such as barnase is selectively expressed in the
tapetum cells in the stamens. Fertility can then be restored by
expression in the tapetum cells of a ribonuclease inhibitor such as
barstar.
[0188] Use of one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as
defined herein above for enhancing the action of a biological
control agent as defined herein above against at least one plant
pathogen.
[0189] The invention also provides use of (i) one or more fatty
acids or derivatives thereof as defined herein to improve the
effect of (ii) a strain, culture, culture filtrate or spores of at
least one bacterium active against at least one plant pathogen as
defined herein in promoting growth in a plant.
[0190] The invention also provides use of (i) one or more fatty
acids or derivatives thereof as defined herein to improve the
effect of (ii) a strain, culture, culture filtrate or spores of at
least one bacterium active against at least one plant pathogen as
defined herein in controlling fungi, oomycetes and/or bacteria at a
locus.
[0191] The invention also provides use of (ii) a strain, culture,
culture filtrate or spores of at least one bacterium active against
at least one plant pathogen as defined herein to improve the effect
of (i) one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as defined
herein in controlling fungi, oomycetes and/or bacteria at a
locus.
[0192] The invention also provides use of (ii) a strain, culture,
culture filtrate or spores of at least one bacterium active against
at least one plant pathogen as defined herein to improve the effect
of (i) one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as defined
herein in protecting a plant against fungi, oomycetes and/or
bacteria.
[0193] The invention also provides use of (ii) a strain, culture,
culture filtrate or spores of at least one bacterium active against
at least one plant pathogen as defined herein to improve the effect
of (i) one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as defined
herein in promoting growth in a plant.
[0194] The invention also provides use of (ii) a strain, culture,
culture filtrate or spores of at least one bacterium active against
at least one plant pathogen as defined herein to improve the effect
of (i) one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as defined
herein in controlling fungi, oomycetes and/or bacteria at a
locus.
[0195] The invention also provides use of (ii) a strain, culture,
culture filtrate or spores of at least one bacterium active against
at least one plant pathogen as defined herein to improve the effect
of (i) one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as defined
herein in protecting a plant against fungi, oomycetes and/or
bacteria.
[0196] The invention also provides use of (ii) a strain, culture,
culture filtrate or spores of at least one bacterium active against
at least one plant pathogen as defined herein to improve the effect
of (i) one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as defined
herein in promoting growth in a plant.
[0197] The invention also relates to a method for reducing overall
damage of plants and plant parts as well as losses in harvested
fruits or vegetables caused by phytopathogens comprising the step
of simultaneously or sequentially applying at least one biological
control agent as defined herein and one or more fatty acids or
derivatives thereof as defined herein to a plant or seed or a locus
where said plant or seed is intended to be grown. It is preferred
that application is foliar.
[0198] The amount of bacteria active against at least one plant
pathogen according to a), which is used or employed in combination
with at least one fatty acid or derivative thereof according to b)
described herein, optionally in the presence of at least one
fungicide, bactericide and/or at least one insecticide, depends on
the final formulation as well as size or type of the plant, plant
parts, seeds, harvested fruits and vegetables to be treated.
Usually, the bacteria active against at least one plant pathogen to
be employed or used according to the invention is present in about
1% to about 80% (w/w), preferably in about 1% to about 60% (w/w),
more preferably about 10% to about 50% (w/w) of its
solo-formulation or combined-formulation with the at least one
fatty acid or derivative thereof described herein, and optionally
the fungicide, bactericide and/or the at least one insecticide.
[0199] Also the amount of the at least one fatty acid or derivative
thereof described herein which is used or employed in combination
with the bacteria active against at least one plant pathogen
according to a), optionally in the presence of at least one further
fungicide, bactericide and/or insecticide, depends on the final
formulation as well as size or type of the plant, plant parts,
seeds, harvested fruit or vegetable to be treated. Usually, the at
least one fatty acid or derivative thereof according to a)
described herein to be employed or used according to the invention
is present in about 0.1% to about 10% (w/w), preferably 0.5% to
about 5% (w/w), more preferably about 1% to about 4% (w/w) and any
value in between, such as 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%, 3.5% or 4%, of
its solo-formulation or 0.1% to about 5% (w/w), preferably 0.2% to
about 2% (w/w) and any value in between, such as 0.25%, 0.5% 0.75%,
of its combined-formulation with the bacteria active against at
least one plant pathogen, and optionally the at least one fungicide
and/or the at least one insecticide.
[0200] Application of the bacteria active against at least one
plant pathogen, preferably the Bacillus subtilis and/or
Paenibacillus based bacteria, or the composition according to the
invention may be effected as a foliar spray, as a soil treatment,
and/or as a seed treatment/dressing. When used as a soil treatment,
the composition comprising said bacteria active against at least
one plant pathogen can be applied as a soil surface drench,
shanked-in, injected and/or applied in-furrow or by combination
with irrigation water. The rate of application for drench soil
treatments, which may be applied at planting, during or after
seeding, or after transplanting and at any stage of plant growth,
is typically about 1.times.10.sup.4 to about 1.times.10.sup.14
colony forming units (CFU) per hectare, at about 1.times.10.sup.4
to about 1.times.10.sup.12 colony forming units (CFU) per hectare,
at about 1.times.10.sup.4 to about 1.times.10.sup.10 colony forming
units (CFU) per hectare, at about 1.times.10.sup.4 to about
1.times.10.sup.8 colony forming units (CFU) per hectare, at about
1.times.10.sup.6 to about 1.times.10.sup.14 colony forming units
(CFU) per hectare, at about 1.times.10.sup.6 to about
1.times.10.sup.12 colony forming units (CFU) per hectare, at about
1.times.10.sup.6 to about 1.times.10.sup.10 colony forming units
(CFU) per hectare, at about 1.times.10.sup.6 to about
1.times.10.sup.8 colony forming units (CFU) per hectare, at about
1.times.10.sup.8 to about 1.times.10.sup.14 colony forming units
(CFU) per hectare, at about 1.times.10.sup.8 to about
1.times.10.sup.12 colony forming units (CFU) per hectare, or at
about 1.times.10.sup.8 to about 1.times.10.sup.10 colony forming
units (CFU) per hectare. The rate of application for in-furrow
treatments, applied at planting, is about 8.times.10.sup.9 to about
1.5.times.10.sup.11 cfu per 100 row meters. In some embodiments,
the rate of application is about 2.times.10.sup.10 to about
1.3.times.10.sup.11 cfu per 100 row meters. In other embodiments,
the rate of application is about 1.times.10.sup.11 cfu per 100 row
meters to about 1.5.times.10.sup.11 cfu per 100 row meters. When
used as a foliar treatment, in one embodiment, about
1.times.10.sup.8 to about 5.times.10.sup.13, about
1.times.10.sup.10 to about 1.5.times.10.sup.13, or about
1.2.times.10.sup.12 to about 9.3.times.10.sup.12 cfu/ha are
applied.
[0201] It is preferred that the application of the composition is
foliar.
[0202] The bacteria active against at least one plant pathogen and
the at least one fatty acid or derivative thereof described herein,
and if present preferably also the fungicide, bactericide and/or
the insecticide may be used or employed in weight ratios providing
for the effect of enhanced fungicidal and/or bactericidal activity.
Preferably, the weight ratio is a synergistic weight ratio. The
skilled person is able to find out the synergistic weight ratios
for the present invention by routine methods. The skilled person
understands that these ratios refer to the ratio within a
combined-formulation as well as to the calculative ratio of the
bacteria active against at least one plant pathogen described
herein and the at least one fatty acid or derivative thereof
described herein when both components are applied as
mono-formulations to a plant to be treated. The skilled person can
calculate this ratio by simple mathematics since the volume and the
amount of the recombinant bacteria and the at least one fatty acid
or derivative thereof described herein, respectively, in a
mono-formulation is known to the skilled person.
[0203] The ratio can be calculated based on the amount of the at
least one fatty acid or derivative thereof disclosed herein, at the
time point of applying said component of a combination according to
the invention to a plant or plant part and the amount of a
bacterium active against at least one plant pathogen shortly prior
(e.g., 48 h, 24 h, 12 h, 6 h, 2 h, 1 h) or at the time point of
applying said component of a combination according to the invention
to a plant or plant part.
[0204] The application of the bacterium active against at least one
plant pathogen and the at least one fatty acid or derivative
thereof disclosed herein to a plant or a plant part can take place
simultaneously or at different times as long as both components are
present on or in the plant after the application(s).
[0205] In particular, in one embodiment the weight ratio,
preferably the synergistic weight ratio, of the bacterium active
against at least one plant pathogen (i.e., the unformulated spore
preparation or the respective fraction of pure spores contained in
a formulation) and the at least one fatty acid or derivative
thereof described herein lies in the range of 1:500 to 50:1; in the
range of 1:250 to 10:1; in the range of 1:100 to 10:1. Additional
ratios are between 1:50 and 1:1 or even between 1:25 and 1:5, such
as 1:20, 1:18, 1:15 or 1:12. In a preferred embodiment, the
(synergistic) weight ratio is between 1:0:5 and 1:4, such as 1:1,
1:2, 1:3 or 1:4. In embodiments in which the fungicidally and/or
bactericidally active bacterium disclosed herein is Bacillus-based,
the weight to weight ratio should be applied to the unformulated
Bacillus spore preparation. In one aspect of this embodiment, the
spore preparation of the fungicidally and/or bactericidally active
bacterium disclosed herein is dried spore preparation containing at
least about 1.times.10.sup.4 cfu/g, at least about 1.times.10.sup.5
cfu/g, at least about 1.times.10.sup.6 cfu/g at least about
1.times.10.sup.7 cfu/g, at least about 1.times.10.sup.8 cfu/g, at
least about 1.times.10.sup.9 cfu/g, at least about
1.times.10.sup.10 cfu/g, and at least about 1.times.10'' cfu/g.
[0206] The application rate of composition to be employed or used
according to the present invention may vary. The skilled person is
able to find the appropriate application rate by way of routine
experiments and based on the disclosure elsewhere in this
application.
[0207] In another aspect, the present invention relates to a method
for increasing crop yield and/or the quality of food commodities
comprising the step of simultaneously or sequentially applying at
least one biological control agent as defined herein above and one
or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as defined herein above
to a plant or seed or a locus where said plant or seed is intended
to be grown.
[0208] In a further aspect, the present invention relates to a
kit-of-parts comprising a biological control agent which is a
fungicidally and/or bactericidally active bacterium as defined in
herein above and one or more fatty acids or derivatives thereof as
defined herein above.
[0209] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the
above-mentioned kit of parts further comprises at least one
additional fungicide, bactericide and/or at least one insecticide,
with the proviso that the fungicidally and/or bactericidally active
bacterium, the insecticide, bactericide and the fungicide are not
identical. The fungicide, bactericide and/or the insecticide can be
present in the component of the kit of parts comprising the
particular biological control agent or in the component comprising
the at least one fatty acid or derivative thereof disclosed herein,
being spatially separated or in both of these components or in the
form of a separate component thus resulting in the kit-of-parts
comprising three components.
[0210] Such at least one further fungicide, bactericide or
insecticide which may be comprised in the composition of the
invention or the kit-of-parts may be any compatible insecticide,
bactericide and/or fungicide used in a target plant. For sequential
application with at least one insecticide, bactericide and/or
fungicide, compatibility with the fungicidally and/or
bactericidally active bacterium is of less importance.
[0211] Moreover, the kit of parts according to the present
invention can additionally comprise at least one auxiliary selected
from the group consisting of extenders, solvents, spontaneity
promoters, carriers, emulsifiers, dispersants, frost protectants,
thickeners and adjuvants as mentioned below. This at least one
auxiliary can be present in the component of the kit of parts
comprising the particular biological control agent or in the
component comprising the at least one fatty acid or derivative
thereof disclosed herein, being spatially separated or in both of
these components or in the form of a separate component thus
resulting in the kit-of-parts comprising three components.
[0212] The following examples illustrate the invention in a
non-limiting fashion.
EXAMPLE 1
Production of Fatty Acid Derivative
[0213] A salt derivative of fatty acids can be prepared by the
following method. This fatty acid salt derivative is referred to as
ABP-510 herein. ABP-510 is obtained by mixing in a reactor a
selection of fatty acids (C14-C18) derived from olive oil following
oil hydrolysis whereby the glycerine is separated from the fatty
acids and the fatty acids are subjected to fractional distillation
in order to achieve the required specification. The fatty acids are
made to react in a temperature controlled blending vessel with such
quantity of potassium hydroxide and water for the production of the
liquid fatty acid salt until solubilization of the components
occurs and a liquid is produced that will readily form a true
solution when diluted in water at the recommended rates of
application for use in the field.
EXAMPLE 2
Test of a B. subtilis Strain and Fatty Acids Against Scab
[0214] For this example, the Product Flipper.RTM. (AlphaBioControl)
was used. To test efficacy of B. subtilis strain QST713 and/or a
product comprising fatty acids in comparison to chemical
fungicides, a field trial was set up in three replicates with 5
apple trees per plot as per the scheme according to table 1. On
Mar. 30, 2018 the first spray was carried out in the presence of a
natural infestation of Venturia inequalis ascospores (scab). The
applications were carried out with an interval of 5-6 days until
the second week of June.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 .sup.1Merpan: 80% captan, .sup.2Delan: 70%
dithianon, .sup.3Serenade: Bacillus subtilis, strain QST 713 (1.0
.times. 10.sup.9 CFU/g), .sup.4Flipper: 479.8 g/l Carboxylic Acid
Potassium Salt Treatment Number Treatment 1. UTC 2. 1.8 kg/ha
Merpan.sup.1 in alternation with 0.425 kg/ha Delan DF.sup.2 3. 5.0
l/ha. Serenade.sup.3 4. 5.0 l/ha Serenade + 2.5 l/ha Flipper.sup.4
5. 5.0 l/ha. Serenade + 5 l/ha Flipper 6. 5 l/ha. Flipper
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Number of infested leaved per 80 leaves per
plot Infested leaves per 80 leaves per plot Treatment Replicate
Nov. 6, 2018 May 7, 2018 1 A 23 31 B 17 24 C 19 37 SUM 59 92 2 A 8
12 B 2 3 C 12 10 SUM 22 25 3 A 5 19 B 9 21 C 20 25 SUM 34 65 4 A 8
11 B 5 18 C 11 18 SUM 24 47 5 A 4 20 B 6 14 C 8 5 SUM 18 39 6 A 8 9
B 12 22 C 11 19 SUM 31 50
[0215] Evaluation:
[0216] 80 leaves per plot were evaluated at two dates for
infestation with scab.
[0217] Results are depicted in table 2 and the resulting efficacy
in table 3.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Summary percentage efficacy control of Scab.
Treatment % efficacy Number Treatment Nov. 6, 2018 May 7, 2018 1.
UTC 0% 0% 2. 1.8 kg/ha Merpan in alternation 63% 73% with 0.425
kg/ha Delan DF 3. 5.0 l/ha. Serenade 42% 29% 4. 5.0 l/ha Serenade +
2.5 l/ha 59% 49% Flipper 5. 5.0 l/ha. Serenade + 5 l/ha 69% 58%
Flipper 6. 5 l/ha. Flipper 47% 46%
EXAMPLE 3
Synergistic Action
[0218] A synergistic effect of fungicides is always present when
the fungicidal activity of the active compound combinations exceeds
the total of the activities of the active compounds when applied
individually. The expected activity for a given combination of two
active compounds can be calculated as follows (according to Colby's
formula) (cf. Colby, S. R., "Calculating Synergistic and
Antagonistic Responses of Herbicide Combinations", Weeds 1967, 15,
20-22):
[0219] If
[0220] X is the efficacy when active compound A is applied at an
application rate of m ppm (or g/ha),
[0221] Y is the efficacy when active compound B is applied at an
application rate of n ppm (or g/ha),
[0222] E is the efficacy when the active compounds A and B are
applied at application rates of m and n ppm (or g/ha),
respectively, and
[0223] then
E = X + Y - X Y 100 ##EQU00001##
[0224] The degree of efficacy expressed in % is denoted. 0% means
an efficacy which corresponds to that of the control while an
efficacy of 100% means that no disease is observed.
[0225] If the actual fungicidal activity exceeds the calculated
value, then the activity of the combination is superadditive, i.e.
a synergistic effect exists. In this case, the efficacy which was
actually observed must be greater than the value for the expected
efficacy (E) calculated from the abovementioned formula.
[0226] A further way of demonstrating a synergistic effect is the
method of Tammes (cf. "Isoboles, a graphic representation of
synergism in pesticides" in Neth. J. Plant Path., 1964, 70,
73-80).
[0227] The invention is illustrated by the following examples.
However the invention is not limited to the examples.
EXAMPLE 4
Synergistic Action of a B. subtilis Strain and Fatty Acids; Late
Blight Test on Tomato
[0228] Serenade ASO commercial product (1.times.10.sup.9 CFU/ml),
FLiPPER commercial product (491.8 g/l potassium salt of fatty
acids), or combinations thereof were diluted with deionized water
to the desired concentration.
[0229] To test for preventive activity, young plants were sprayed
with the preparation of products at the stated rates of
application. After the spray coating had dried on, the plants are
inoculated with an aqueous spore suspension of Phytophthora
infestans. The plants were then placed in an incubation cabinet at
approximately 20.degree. C. and a relative atmospheric humidity of
100%.
TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Late blight test (tomato)/preventive
Application rate of Efficacy in % Active compounds product in %
volume. found* calc.** Serenade ASO (QST713) 0.5 6 FLiPPER 0.5 24
Serenade + FLiPPER 1:1 0.5 + 0.5 42 29 *found = activity found
**calc. = activity calculated using Colby's formula
[0230] The test was evaluated 5 days after inoculation. 0% means an
efficacy which corresponds to that of the untreated control, while
an efficacy of 100% means that no disease is observed.
[0231] Table 4 below clearly shows that the observed activity of
the active compound combination according to the invention is
greater than the calculated activity, i.e. a synergistic effect is
present.
EXAMPLE 5
Synergistic action of a B. subtilis strain and fatty acids; Gray
mold test on pepper
[0232] Serenade ASO commercial product, FLiPPER commercial product,
or combinations thereof were diluted with deionized water to the
desired concentration.
[0233] To test for preventive activity, young plants were sprayed
with the preparations of products at the stated rates of
application. After the spray coating had dried on, the plants were
inoculated with a spore suspension of Botrytis cinerea. The plants
were then placed in an incubation cabinet at approximately
20.degree. C. and a relative atmospheric humidity of 100%.
[0234] The test was evaluated 3 days after the inoculation. 0%
means an efficacy which corresponds to that of the untreated
control, while an efficacy of 100% means that no disease is
observed.
TABLE-US-00005 TABLE 5 Gray mold test (pepper)/preventive
Application rate of Efficacy in % Active compounds product in %
volume. found* calc.** Serenade ASO (QST713) 2 45 1 37 FLiPPER 2 56
1 14 Serenade + FLiPPER 1:1 2 + 2 82 76 1 + 1 62 46 *found =
activity found **calc. = activity calculated using Colby's
formula
[0235] Table 5 clearly shows that the observed activity of the
active compound combination according to the invention is greater
than the calculated activity, i.e. a synergistic effect is
present.
Example 6
Synergistic Action of a B. subtilis Strain and Fatty Acids; Wheat
Leaf Rust Test on Wheat
[0236] Serenade ASO commercial product, FLiPPER commercial product,
or combinations thereof were diluted with deionized water to the
desired concentration.
[0237] To test for preventive activity, young plants were sprayed
with the preparation of products at the stated rates of
application. After the spray coating had dried on, the plants were
inoculated with an aqueous spore suspension of Puccinia tritici.
The plants were then placed in an incubation cabinet at
approximately 20.degree. C. and a relative atmospheric humidity of
100%.
[0238] The test was evaluated 10 days after the inoculation. 0%
means an efficacy which corresponds to that of the untreated
control, while an efficacy of 100% means that no disease is
observed.
[0239] Table 6 below clearly shows that the observed activity of
the active compound combination according to the invention is
greater than the calculated activity, i.e. a synergistic effect is
present.
TABLE-US-00006 TABLE 6 Wheat leaf rust test (wheat)/preventive
Application rate of Efficacy in % Active compounds product in %
volume. found* calc.** Serenade ASO (QST713) 1 63 0.5 38 0.25 25
FLiPPER 1 71 0.5 25 0.25 0 Serenade + FLiPPER 1:1 1 + 1 100 89 0.5
+ 0.5 95 54 0.25 + 0.25 79 25 *found = activity found **calc. =
activity calculated using Colby's formula
EXAMPLE 7
Synergistic Action of a Paenibacillus spp. Strain and Fatty Acids;
Cucurbit Powdery Mildew on Cucumbers
[0240] Paenibacillus spp. strain NRRL B-67615 in a suspension
concentrate (SC) formulation (4.times.10.sup.6 CFU/ml), FLiPPER
commercial product, or combinations thereof were diluted with
deionized water to the desired concentration.
[0241] The application rate of Paenibacillus spp. refers to the
amount of Paenibacillus spp. strain NRRL B-67615 formulated as a
suspension concentrate.
[0242] To test for curative activity, young plants were inoculated
with an aqueous spore suspension of Podosphaera xanthii in a
greenhouse and 3 days later, the plants were sprayed with the
preparation of test samples at the stated rate of application.
After the spray coating had dried on, the plants were returned to
the greenhouse.
[0243] The test was evaluated 4 days after the treatments were
applied. 0% means an efficacy which corresponds to that of the
untreated control, while an efficacy of 100% means that no disease
is observed.
[0244] Table 7 below clearly shows that the observed activity of
the active compound combination according to the invention is
greater than the calculated activity, i.e. a synergistic effect is
present.
TABLE-US-00007 TABLE 7 Cucurbit powdery mildew test
(cucumber)/curative Application rate of material Efficacy in %
Active compounds in % volume found* calc.** Paenibacillus spp. 0.5
0 NRRL B-67615 FLiPPER 2 53 Paenibacillus spp. 0.5 + 2 68 53 NRRL
B-67615 + FLiPPER *found = activity found **calc. = activity
calculated using Colby's formula
EXAMPLE 8
Synergistic Action of a Paenibacillus spp. Strain and Fatty Acids;
Wheat Leaf Rust on Wheat
[0245] Paenibacillus spp. strain NRRL B-67615 in a suspension
concentrate (SC) formulation, FLiPPER commercial product, or
combinations thereof were diluted with deionized water to the
desired concentration.
[0246] The application rate of Paenibacillus SC refers to the
amount of Paenibacillus strain NRRL B-67615 formulated as a
suspension concentrate.
[0247] To test for preventive activity, young plants were sprayed
with the preparation of products at the stated rates of
application. After the spray coating had dried on, the plants were
inoculated with an aqueous spore suspension of Puccinia tritici.
The plants were then placed in an incubation cabinet at
approximately 20.degree. C. and a relative atmospheric humidity of
100%.
[0248] The test was evaluated 10 days after the inoculation. 0%
means an efficacy which corresponds to that of the untreated
control, while an efficacy of 100% means that no disease is
observed.
[0249] Table 8 below clearly shows that the observed activity of
the active compound combination according to the invention is
greater than the calculated activity, i.e. a synergistic effect is
present.
TABLE-US-00008 TABLE 8 Wheat leaf rust test (wheat)/preventive
Application rate of material Efficacy in % Active compounds in %
volume found* calc.** Paenibacillus spp. 0.5 0 NRRL B-67615 FLiPPER
2 38 Paenibacillus NRRL 0.5 + 2 58 38 B-67615 + FLiPPER *found =
activity found **calc. = activity calculated using Colby's
formula
* * * * *